Detroit PWHL team bolsters defensive depth with 3 signings

Detroit's PWHL team added some reinforcements to its defense, announcing the addition of three blue-liners.

>Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Stephanie Markowski each signed two-year agreements through the 2027-28 season, while Mia Biotti signed a one-year agreement for 2026-27 on Sunday, June 21. The signings are part of the league’s open signing period that began on Friday.

>Channell-Watkins, a Plymouth native, joins her hometown team after spending last season with the Vancouver Goldeneyes and two previous seasons with the Minnesota Frost, where she won back-to-back PWHL Walter Cup titles. In 30 games last year, the 31-year-old had two assists and tied for fifth among defenders with 44 hits.

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>Markowski was the 20th overall selection by the Ottawa Charge in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. The 24-year-old finished third on the team with a plus-6 rating this past season and has 10 points (two goals) in 58 career regular season games, also appearing in 16 playoff contests across consecutive trips to the Walter Cup Finals.

>Biotti spent her rookie season with the Boston Fleet. She made her PWHL debut at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 3 and had two assists in 13 regular season games and saw action in two playoff contests.

>This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit PWHL team bolsters defensive depth with 3 signings