What happened: The Professional Women's Hockey League unveiled official names and logos for four expansion franchises on Tuesday. The newly branded clubs are the Detroit Clutch, Hamilton Havoc, San Jose Sea Lions, and Vegas Vanguards. The identities establish the league's presence in four new North American markets.

Why it matters: The branding rollout marks a major step in the league's expansion timeline after the PWHL designated Detroit as its first expansion market for the 2026-27 season. The four new clubs expand the league's footprint across key American and Canadian markets while opening dozens of new professional roster spots. Establishing distinct team names and crests allows each franchise to begin commercial operations and merchandising ahead of game play.

What to watch: Uniform unveilings and schedule releases for the four expansion clubs will follow as the league prepares for the 2026-27 season.