Names Released for New PWHL Teams

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Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 10:33

The four new expansion teams in the Professional Women's Hockey League have released their names and logos.

PWHL - The Professional Women's Hockey League has released some exciting news.

The four newest teams have announced their names and logos. Hamilton, Detroit, San Jose, and Vegas now have their identities. Starting with Hamilton, they will be known as the Havoc. Next, Detroit will go by the Clutch. Third, San Jose will call themselves the Sea Lions. Lastly, Vegas will be under the name Vanguards.

Below are the meanings behind the names and logos, and the information is from the official PWHL website.

Hamilton Havoc

"Havoc is inspired by the unique balance between the forces of industry and nature in Hamilton, as steel mills rise alongside the natural beauty of the Niagara Escarpment. Shaped by generations of creators, builders, and makers, disruption has always made way for change, adaptation, and reinvention, and this team will be tested and forged in the same spirit. The Havoc logo is anchored by Hamilton’s official bird, the peregrine falcon, reimagined in steel with molten eyes, alongside bold, steel-forged lettering, projecting strength, durability, and unyielding resolve. The primary color palette of rusted metal, molten steel, falcon ivory, and flame orange speak to a city where nature and industry exist side by side."

Detroit Clutch

"Clutch brings together Detroit’s rich legacy of automotive innovation and the defining moments in sports when teams deliver under pressure. Together, the name reflects a city built by people who set ideas into motion, and a team who embraces the relentless pursuit of progress. The circular logo references a wheel and automotive clutch, with the wordmark in chrome, Art Deco-inspired typography. Rhythmic vinyl lines sit within the wheel, a nod to Motown’s enduring influence. The team’s primary color palette of motor black, clutch chrome, hot white, and racing red reflect the performance precision and resilient grit of Detroit."

San Jose Sea Lions

"Sea Lions are proud guardians of the rugged Bay Area coastline, deeply connected to Pacific waters and the communities that define the region. Known for their intelligence, playful expression, agility, and fierce protection of their colonies, the Sea Lion emblem at the logo’s center evokes that same energy. The modern typography, setting sun visual, and primary color palette of coastal blue, sunset orange, tidal navy, and sea mist, are reflective of California’s coastline. The team’s name also has a special connection to the region’s sports history through the San Francisco Sea Lions of the West Coast Negro Baseball Association, who played in 1946 and featured pioneer Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball regularly in a major men's professional league."

Vegas Vanguards

"The name Vanguards celebrates those who lead the way, embracing challenges and creating new opportunities. Inspired by the pioneering spirit that helped shape the West, the name represents courage, determination, and a willingness to forge new paths. The logo features the kit fox, an adaptable and resilient Mojave Desert-native that perseveres and thrives in the face of adversity. Above the fox, Las Vegas’ iconic star is positioned between a ‘V’ silhouette. The typography is inspired by the American frontier, while the primary color palette of cactus green, fox ivory, desert gold, and midnight navy speaks to the spirit and beauty of Las Vegas’ desert home."

The expansion teams will wear their city-branded jerseys for their first seaon, then the logos will be put on redesigned jerseys for the 2027-2028 season. If you would like to buy any of the new merchandise with the new logos of the expansion teams, or of the teams in the league you can click here.