The third phase of the PWHL’s multi-step expansion process officially began on Wednesday afternoon.For the next three days, the league’s four expansion teams — Detroit, Hamilton, San Jose and Las Vegas — will be able to sign an additional three players to their inaugural rosters.If an expansion team does not sign three players before the end of the Phase 3 signing window, the team will be permitted to sign additional players in the Phase 4 signing period (June 14-15) to get to 10 total players.At this stage, the eight existing teams will also be able to protect three more players from the rest of the six-phase expansion process, bringing their total protected list to six players. Any free agents must be signed to be protected during this window.Additionally, any player who rejected a “Foundational Player Offer” in Phase 2 must sign — with any team — during Phase 3. According to a league release, Izzy Daniel (VAN), Kali Flanagan (TOR), Jenn Gardiner (VAN), Julia Gosling (SEA), Susanna Tapani (BOS) and Grace Zumwinkle (MIN) all rejected offers from expansion teams.
The signing window will officially close on Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Protection lists are due shortly after at 5 p.m. ET.This story will be updated as signings are announced.Las VegasMegan Carter, defense, two-year contractCarter is a competitive, hard-to-play-against defender who will add shutdown ability to Vegas’ blue line — which already includes offensive defenders in Kendall Cooper, Erin Ambrose and Mae Batherson.Carter spent the 2025-26 season with the Seattle Torrent after being acquired by the team in the 2025 expansion draft. She uses her size well to play a physical game and registered a team-high 37 hits for the Torrent this season.Prior to joining Seattle, the 25-year-old was selected 12th overall by the Toronto Sceptres in the 2024 PWHL Draft.Seattle TorrentJulia Gosling, forward, two-year contractDespite Seattle’s struggles this season, Gosling had a breakout year, scoring a career-high six goals and 20 points as a sophomore in the PWHL.Gosling co-led the Torrent in points and finished the season with a team-high 14 assists. She has excellent size (5-foot-11) and one of the best shots in the women’s game — with room still to grow at just 25 years old.After being initially left unprotected in Phase 1, Gosling rejected an FPO in Phase 2 to remain a part of Seattle’s core that already includes Alex Carpenter, one of the best centers in the world.The Torrent also protected defender Anna Wilgren and 22-year-old goalie Hannah Murphy, whom general manager Meghan Turner said “we haven’t seen the best of” yet.
