USA Star Hilary Knight to Reportedly Join PWHL Expansion Team with Foundational Contract After Trade

Hockey star Hilary Knight is joining the PWHL's expansion team in Detroit as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Las Vegas Torrent, per the Associated Press.

Per that report, "Knight will first sign a foundational contract with Las Vegas as part of Phase 2 of the league's expansion signing process. Las Vegas in turn has reached an agreement to trade Knight to Detroit for the team's first-round pick in the draft next week."

The foundational offer guarantees Knight will make at least $100,000 this season.

Knight spent two seasons in the PWHL with the Boston Fleet before playing last season for the Seattle Torrent, itself an expansion team at the time. The Torrent chose to protect forward Alex Carpenter, defender Anna Wilgren and goalie Hannah Murphy as part of the expansion process this offseason, meaning Knight was on the move again.

Las Vegas used its one foundational signing slot it had available as an expansion team to add Knight before trading her for draft capital. Detroit, meanwhile, already signed forward Daryl Watts with its foundational contract offer.

Detroit will include several familiar faces for Knight from her time headlining the United States women's national team, including Britta Curl-Salemme, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes.

Knight, 36, scored five goals and had nine assists in 22 games last season for Seattle, though injuries cut her season short. She tied for the league lead in points the season prior with Boston, however, putting up 15 goals and 14 assists.

The long-time United States captain also has five Olympic medals to her name, winning gold twice (2018, 2026) and silver three times (2010, 2014, 2022). She is a legend in women's hockey and remains one of the biggest names in the sport.