It’s official. Hilary Knight is coming to Detroit.
The five-time Olympian was acquired by PWHL Detroit on Tuesday morning in a trade with PWHL Las Vegas for the team’s first-round pick, third overall, in the 2026 PWHL Draft.
A roster freeze, which was implemented as part of the PWHL Expansion Player Distribution Process, lifted Tuesday at 9 a.m.
“Hilary Knight is one of the best and most accomplished players in women’s hockey history and is a significant addition to our roster ahead of our inaugural season, which makes this a very exciting day for PWHL Detroit,” PWHL Detroit general manager Manon Rheaume said.
“In addition to the tremendous skill she will bring to the ice, her leadership and presence in the locker room and in the community and her desire to compete and to win a Walter Cup will be instrumental in shaping our culture and building our foundation.”
Knight most recently served as the inaugural captain of the Seattle Torrent during the 2025-26 season.
She contributed 14 points (five goals, nine assists) while being limited to 22 games after sustaining a lower-body injury in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where she captained Team USA to gold.
The 36-year-old native of Sun Valley, Idaho, spent her first two PWHL seasons captaining Boston, highlighted by a 2024-25 campaign that saw Knight co-lead the league in points (29), tie for second in goals (15), and tie for sixth in assists (14) in 30 games.
She earned recognition as a First Team All-Star and finalist for the PWHL Billie Jean King MVP award and Forward of the Year award.
In 76 career PWHL games, Knight has registered 54 points (26 goals, 28 assists) and is tied for ninth in league history in goals and ranks 12th in total points.
On the international stage, Knight is a legend for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
In February, she capped off her fifth Olympic Winter Games by becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic history, posting her record-setting 15th goal and recording her 33rd point in a gold medal victory over Canada.
The gold-medal game also made Knight the only woman in U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey history to earn five medals (two gold, three silver), adding to a prolific international career that includes 10 golds and 15 total medals (five silver) at the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Knight played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin where she won two NCAA National Championships and remains the Badgers’ all-time leader in goals scored.
Knight was signed to a one-year contract after receiving an Expansion Foundational Offer (EFO) from Las Vegas during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s expansion process.
The 2026 PWHL Draft will take place on Wednesday at the Fox Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m.
A total of 72 players will be selected in the six-round process, with PWHL Detroit currently slated to make the first pick in team history at number 15.
How to watch the PWHL Draft
What: 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft
When: 5 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Fox Theatre, Detroit
Draft format: Event will consist of six rounds with all 12 PWHL teams selecting from a pool of 235 eligible players
First pick: Vancouver Goldeneyes hold the first overall pick. Detroit traded the third overall pick on Tuesday morning to Las Vegas for Hilary Knight. Detroit also acquired Boston’s second-round pick (22nd overall) and third-round pick (34th overall) in exchange for forward Ella Huber and Detroit’s third-round pick (27th overall).
Tickets: Limited number of tickets remain, starting at $22
TV/radio: WMYD (TV 20). Livestreamed on PWHL website
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Olympic star Hilary Knight officially traded to PWHL Detroit
Reporting by Mark Falkner, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mark Falkner, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
