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Las Vegas Secures First Two Players in PWHL Expansion Draft
Las Vegas made its first roster moves Saturday, signing defensemen Mae Batherson and Kendall Cooper to two‑year contracts in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The deal marks the beginning of the franchise’s build‑out as it prepares to join the league’s 2026‑27 season.
Batherson, 25, arrived from the Minnesota Frost, the league’s most recent Walter Cup champion. She tallied 15 points in 30 games last season, a sharp improvement over her rookie year of three points. The 6‑ft‑3‑in. defender finished the season with a plus‑10 rating and added two assists during the Frost’s five‑game playoff run against the Montreal Victoire. Cooper, 24, also came from Minnesota. She finished the year with 19 points in 30 games, tying for second among rookies, and logged an average of 21:29 of ice time per game – the second‑highest total for a rookie.
Both players were part of the Frost’s championship roster in 2025. Cooper was selected sixth overall in the 2025 draft, while Batherson was a sixth‑round pick in the 2024 draft. Their playoff experience over the past two seasons gives the new Vegas team a foundation of proven performers.
The signings come after the league’s second expansion wave added Las Vegas, Hamilton, San Jose and Detroit for the 2026‑27 campaign. Players left unprotected by the PWHL’s eight original teams entered the expansion process. Phase 2 of the expansion draft ran until 10 a.m. Monday, allowing new franchises to negotiate with eligible players. The open‑signing period, in which all 12 teams can negotiate with unsigned and unprotected players, will begin on June 10.
Las Vegas will host its home games at T‑Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. General manager Dominique DiDia, appointed in May, will steer the roster construction and oversee the franchise’s integration into the league. The PWHL, owned and operated by the Mark Walter Group, currently fields 12 teams across the United States and Canada. Its competitive format includes a 3‑2‑1‑0 points system, a best‑of‑five shootout for tied games, and restrictions on body checking. Games are broadcast nationally in Canada by CBC and TSN, and in the United States by regional sports networks.
Batherson’s two‑year contract brings veteran stability to the blue line, while Cooper’s rookie‑season production signals potential as a key offensive contributor from defense. Both players’ championship pedigree could help the expansion club establish a competitive culture early on.
Las Vegas’s first season will commence in the 2026‑27 campaign, and the roster moves will be closely watched as the league expands its footprint. The signings demonstrate the PWHL’s strategy of building depth by acquiring players who have proven themselves in high‑pressure situations.
With the expansion process now complete, the franchise will shift focus to training, scouting, and integrating its new players into the organization. The team’s next public engagement is expected in early July, as the league prepares for the upcoming season.
The contracts for Batherson and Cooper provide stability for the players and a foundation for Las Vegas’s competitive ambitions in the coming seasons, marking a significant step for both the franchise and the PWHL as it continues to grow its talent pool and broaden its geographic reach.
Batherson, 25, arrived from the Minnesota Frost, the league’s most recent Walter Cup champion. She tallied 15 points in 30 games last season, a sharp improvement over her rookie year of three points. The 6‑ft‑3‑in. defender finished the season with a plus‑10 rating and added two assists during the Frost’s five‑game playoff run against the Montreal Victoire. Cooper, 24, also came from Minnesota. She finished the year with 19 points in 30 games, tying for second among rookies, and logged an average of 21:29 of ice time per game – the second‑highest total for a rookie.
Both players were part of the Frost’s championship roster in 2025. Cooper was selected sixth overall in the 2025 draft, while Batherson was a sixth‑round pick in the 2024 draft. Their playoff experience over the past two seasons gives the new Vegas team a foundation of proven performers.
The signings come after the league’s second expansion wave added Las Vegas, Hamilton, San Jose and Detroit for the 2026‑27 campaign. Players left unprotected by the PWHL’s eight original teams entered the expansion process. Phase 2 of the expansion draft ran until 10 a.m. Monday, allowing new franchises to negotiate with eligible players. The open‑signing period, in which all 12 teams can negotiate with unsigned and unprotected players, will begin on June 10.
Las Vegas will host its home games at T‑Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. General manager Dominique DiDia, appointed in May, will steer the roster construction and oversee the franchise’s integration into the league. The PWHL, owned and operated by the Mark Walter Group, currently fields 12 teams across the United States and Canada. Its competitive format includes a 3‑2‑1‑0 points system, a best‑of‑five shootout for tied games, and restrictions on body checking. Games are broadcast nationally in Canada by CBC and TSN, and in the United States by regional sports networks.
Batherson’s two‑year contract brings veteran stability to the blue line, while Cooper’s rookie‑season production signals potential as a key offensive contributor from defense. Both players’ championship pedigree could help the expansion club establish a competitive culture early on.
Las Vegas’s first season will commence in the 2026‑27 campaign, and the roster moves will be closely watched as the league expands its footprint. The signings demonstrate the PWHL’s strategy of building depth by acquiring players who have proven themselves in high‑pressure situations.
With the expansion process now complete, the franchise will shift focus to training, scouting, and integrating its new players into the organization. The team’s next public engagement is expected in early July, as the league prepares for the upcoming season.
The contracts for Batherson and Cooper provide stability for the players and a foundation for Las Vegas’s competitive ambitions in the coming seasons, marking a significant step for both the franchise and the PWHL as it continues to grow its talent pool and broaden its geographic reach.
