2026 EXPANSION TRACKER
How the PWHL stocked Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose in June 2026: a six-phase player distribution process, then 26 more expansion-team picks in the 2026 Entry Draft. Every name below comes from an official league release.
HOW IT WORKED
- 1June 2–3, 2026Initial protections
Each existing team protected three players under contract for 2026-27. Players on expiring contracts could re-sign with any existing team, and any such signing automatically burned one of that team's three protection slots.
- 2June 5–8, 2026Foundational signings
Each expansion team acquired five foundational players from the unprotected pool through signings (with a selection process as a backstop). This is where the marquee names moved.
- 3June 10–12, 2026Second protections + depth signings
Existing teams locked in three additional protections while unsigned and unprotected players could negotiate with all twelve teams. Expansion teams could add up to three more players each.
- 4June 14–15, 2026Roster completion
Everyone not signed or protected in Phases 1–3 became available to the four expansion clubs, via signings plus an Expansion Roster Completion selection where needed, bringing each expansion roster to ten players.
- 5June 16 & 18, 2026Re-sign window
Existing teams got a window to re-sign their own remaining free agents before the market opened league-wide.
- 6from June 19, 2026Open signing period
All remaining free agents could sign with any of the twelve teams. Two days earlier, on June 17, the 2026 Entry Draft added 72 more players to the league.
WHO EACH TEAM GOT
Everyone each club acquired in the distribution process (Phases 2–4), including the Knight sign-and-trade. Players with a 2025-26 salary on record link to their Salary Spill page.
- Cayla BarnesDphase 2
- Hannah BilkaFphase 2
- Jesse CompherFphase 2
- Britta Curl-SalemmeFphase 2
- Daryl WattsFphase 2
- Hilary KnightFsign-and-trade with Las Vegas after her Phase 2 signing theretrade
- Sydney BardDtwo-year dealphase 3
- Taylor GirardFMichigan native, two-year dealphase 3
- Shiann DarkangeloFthrough 2027-28phase 4
- Ella HuberFthrough 2026-27phase 4
- Nina Jobst-SmithDthrough 2026-27phase 4
- Emily ClarkFphase 2
- Nicole GoslingDphase 2
- Brianne JennerFphase 2
- Alina MüllerFphase 2
- Kayle OsborneGphase 2
- Zoe BoydDtwo-year dealphase 3
- Riley BrengmanDthrough 2027-28phase 4
- Peyton HempFExpansion Roster Completion, through 2026-27selected
- Abby HustlerFthrough 2027-28phase 4
- Allyson SimpsonDthrough 2027-28phase 4
- Anne CherkowskiFphase 2
- Rory GuildayDphase 2
- Kristin O'NeillFphase 2
- Corinne SchroederGphase 2
- Maddi WheelerFphase 2
- Maggie ConnorsFthrough 2027-28phase 3
- Hadley HartmetzDthrough 2027-28phase 3
- Mariah KeoppleDthrough 2027-28phase 3
- Natálie MlýnkováFthrough 2026-27phase 4
- Daniela PejšováDthrough 2027-28phase 4
- Erin AmbroseDphase 2
- Mae BathersonDphase 2
- Kendall CooperDphase 2
- Hayley ScamurraFphase 2
- Nicole HensleyGtwo-year dealphase 3
- Maureen MurphyFone-year dealphase 3
- Megan CarterDphase 3
- Abby BoreenFExpansion Roster Completion, through 2026-27selected
- Katy KnollFthrough 2027-28phase 4
SOURCES
- PWHL, 2026 Expansion Player Distribution Process announced ↗
- PWHL, Phase 2 complete: foundational signings ↗
- PWHL, Phase 3 complete: protections and signings ↗
- PWHL, Phase 4 complete: signings and selections ↗
2026-27 salaries for these deals haven't been published; contract terms shown where the league release stated them.