Detroit's new PWHL team has already begun putting together its roster.
The professional women's hockey team signed its first player's contract on Friday, for forward Daryl Watts, following an Expansion Foundational Order ahead of the squad's first season.
Shortly after, PWHL Detroit also signed forward Hannah Bilka and defender Cayla Barnes.
Watts, 27, signed a four-year contract, which will keep her in Detroit through the 2029-2030 season.
The Toronto native is considered one of the top players in the league. Last season with the Toronto Sceptres, she scored ten goals for 19 points. Watts is also the first PWHL player to score at least ten goals in the league's first three seasons of existence. Watts also won a silver medal for Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Barnes, 27, is from southern California and signed a two-year contract. Last season with the Seattle Torrent, she scored three goals for eight points and collected 20 penalty minutes. Barnes played with the Montreal Victoire the season before.
Bilka also played with Seattle last year. She scored four goals for nine points before her season was cut short with an upper-body injury suffered during the Winter Olympics. The 25-year-old is from the Dallas, Texas area.
Detroit will host the PWHL Draft on June 17 at the Fox Theatre.
