The PWHL is about to get a serious boost of international talent because Detroit just signed former Japanese Olympian Akane Shiga to a two-year contract for the 2027-28 season. This isn’t just another signing, folks. Shiga literally made history as the PWHL’s first Japanese player back in 2024, and now she’s bringing her elite skills to the Motor City. Coach Josh Sciba’s roster just jumped to 16 players, and the buzz for their inaugural season is getting LOUD.
A Return and a Reunion in Detroit
This isn’t Shiga’s first rodeo in the PWHL. She played for Ottawa in the league’s inaugural season, netting two goals in 24 games. Talk about making an impact right away. She even played in the league’s first ever game at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2024. Now, the 25-year-old from Hokkaido, Japan, is linking up with some familiar faces. She’s reuniting with her former Ottawa teammates Shiann Darkangelo and Daryl Watts. That built-in chemistry could be huge for Detroit as they kick off their very first season. You know how important that familiarity is when a team is just starting out, right?
Olympic Firepower and Playoff Dominance
If you’re wondering what kind of player Detroit is getting, just look at the stats. Shiga spent the last two seasons tearing it up in Sweden’s SDHL with Lulea HF. Last year, she was second in team scoring, racking up 38 points from 12 goals and 26 assists in 36 regular-season games. But here’s the kicker: she led the ENTIRE club in postseason scoring with a ridiculous seven points, two goals and five assists, in just six playoff appearances. That’s clutch performance when it matters most!
And it’s not just club play. This woman is a two-time Olympian. She tied for Japan’s scoring lead in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, putting up three points with one goal and two assists in only four games. Plus, she’s got six IIHF Women’s World Championships top division tournaments under her belt. That’s serious international experience coming to Detroit’s locker room.
The Inaugural Roster Is Getting Real
With Shiga joining the squad, Detroit’s roster is truly taking shape for their debut season. She’ll be skating alongside a talented group of forwards including Hannah Bilka, Jesse Compher, Britta Curl-Salemme, Taylor Girard, Hilary Knight, and Olivia Wallin. The defense looks solid with Sydney Bard, Cayla Barnes, Mia Biotti, Mellissa Channell-Watkins, Nina Jobst-Smith, and Stephanie Markowski. And between the pipes, they’ve got goaltender Alice Philbert. This team is building something special for the PWHL’s inaugural season, and Shiga’s signing just cranked up the excitement another notch. It’s going to be wild watching this squad hit the ice!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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