PWHL Reveals Names and Logos for Four New Expansion Clubs

Four New Teams Join the League

The Professional Women's Hockey League has announced the names and visual identities for its four expansion teams. The Detroit Clutch, Hamilton Havoc, Las Vegas Vanguards, and San Jose Sea Lions will take the ice for the 2026 to 2027 season. Their arrival will push the league to 12 total franchises.

Fans will see these squads wear jerseys featuring city names during their inaugural season. Those initial color schemes were shared last month. While the official team logos will not appear on game jerseys until the second season, supporters can already buy merchandise featuring the new crests this year.

Historic Ties in San Jose and Motown Roots in Detroit

San Jose has a visual identity that connects local wildlife to a historic moment in baseball. The name highlights the animals living along the Bay Area coast, but it also pays tribute to the San Francisco Sea Lions from the 1946 West Coast Negro Baseball Association. That historic club featured Toni Stone, who began her professional career there before playing in men's leagues with clubs like the Indianapolis Clowns.

Detroit went with an industrial theme. The Clutch logo uses a circular layout inspired by a wheel and an automotive clutch, completed with chrome Art Deco lettering. The inside of the wheel features lines cut like a vinyl record to honor the Motown music heritage of the city.

Falcon and Fox Imagery for Hamilton and Las Vegas

In Canada, the Hamilton Havoc built their look around the peregrine falcon, the official bird of the city. The design combines the local natural surroundings with the heavy industrial identity of the area.

In the desert, the Las Vegas Vanguards chose the kit fox as their main icon. The small Mojave animal anchors a design colored by cactus green, fox ivory, desert gold, and midnight navy.

Design groups led by women inside the league directed the branding process. They also worked with creative agency Doubleday and Cartwright on the looks for San Jose and Las Vegas. Amy Scheer, the league executive vice president of business operations, explained that the names were selected to reflect the character and pride of each community.

The current competition will continue first. The fourth season of league play is scheduled to begin on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6.