The Professional Women's Hockey League unveiled the name and logo of its Las Vegas expansion franchise on Tuesday, giving the city its first PWHL identity ahead of the team's inaugural 2026-27 season. The Vanguards are one of four expansion clubs revealing their brands, joining Detroit, Hamilton and San Jose.

The league said the Vanguards name is meant to honor those who lead the way, take on challenges and open new opportunities. It draws on the pioneering spirit associated with the American West, the PWHL said, and is intended to convey courage, determination and a willingness to forge new paths.

The centerpiece of the logo is a kit fox, a species native to the Mojave Desert. The league described the animal as adaptable and resilient — qualities it hopes the team reflects. Above the fox, the Las Vegas star sits inside a "V" silhouette, and the typography draws on American frontier lettering.

The primary color palette is cactus green, fox ivory, desert gold and midnight navy.

The Vanguards will wear city-branded jerseys during their first season, with the new team logo appearing on redesigned jerseys in the franchise's second year. Merchandise featuring the new brand is available now through the PWHL's online shop.

Women-led design teams across the league led the process of developing each city's brand identity, according to the PWHL. The Las Vegas logo was created in collaboration with the creative agency Doubleday & Cartwright.

"Our fans have been eagerly waiting for this moment, and we're excited to officially introduce these new team identities as we mark another major milestone for the PWHL," said Amy Scheer, the league's executive vice president of business operations. "We approached this process with great care, creating team names and logos that reflect the character and pride of each community, while staying connected to the PWHL."

The expansion sides will begin play when PWHL Season Four opens on the league's opening weekend, Dec. 5-6.

For Las Vegas, the arrival of a professional women's hockey team adds another franchise to a sports market that has expanded rapidly in recent years, from the Golden Knights to the Aces and the Raiders. The Vanguards' desert-specific branding — a native fox and a palette pulled from the landscape — signals the league's intent to root the team in local identity rather than import a generic expansion look.

The name also carries a broader message for a league still building its footprint: the PWHL is framing its newest markets as pioneers in women's professional hockey, and it is asking Las Vegas to see itself the same way.