The PWHL hired women’s hockey legend Manon Rheaume on Friday to be the general manager of the Detroit expansion team.

The PWHL recently announced plans to expand to Detroit, Las Vegas and Hamilton (Ontario) for the 2026-27 season, with a 12th team reportedly planned for San Jose, Calif.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” Rheaume said. “This city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special. The growth of women’s hockey has been incredible to watch, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of the sport alongside the PWHL. I can’t wait to get started and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud of.”

Rheaume, 54, made history in 1992 by signing with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and becoming the first woman to compete in an exhibition game in any of the four major North American sports. A goaltender, she also won two world championships with Canada’s women’s team (1992, 1994) and a silver medal at the 1988 Nagano Olympics.

“Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations.

“She brings an unmatched hockey resume, a championship mindset, and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game. Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, makes her the perfect person to lead PWHL Detroit into its inaugural season.”

–Field Level Media

Emma Raducanu is reuniting with the coach who guided her to her only career title — the U.S. Open in 2021.

That is Andrew Richardson, a veteran coach and former singles player on the ATP Tour. Raducanu said in a statement issued Friday that she is “grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time.”

Raducanu was an 18-year-old qualifier when she captured the Grand Slam championship in New York. Soon after, she split with Richardson.

Their new partnership begins immediately. Richardson will be in Raducanu’s corner at the Strasbourg International, a 500-level WTA Tour event that starts Sunday in France.

Richardson, 52, most recently worked at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain. Like Raducanu, he is from Great Britain.

The Tennis Podcast reported that Raducanu and Richardson worked together at the academy in April.

Raducanu, 23, has had nine coaches but has not had a permanent one since January, when she and Francisco Roig split after her loss at the Australian Open.

She has not played many matches this season, recently pulling out of the Italian Open because she did not feel well. ESPN reported Friday that she has a “post-viral illness.”

She last took the court for the third round at Indian Wells in March and faced Amanda Anisimova, losing 6-1, 6-1.

At Strasbourg, Raducanu will have the opportunity to practice on the clay courts to prepare for the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, which will run May 24-June 7.

Raducanu will fall from No. 30 to No. 37 in the rankings next week.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal already is playing catch, just nine days after undergoing elbow surgery, the New York Post reported Friday.

The left-hander underwent an arthroscopic procedure on May 6 to remove loose bodies in his pitching elbow. His original estimated recovery time of two months could be shortened to six weeks, per the report.

Skubal, 29, experienced discomfort in his April 29 start against the Atlanta Braves in a 4-3 loss. He gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out seven. He did not figure into the decision.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts this season. He has struck out 45 batters and walked only six in 43 1/3 innings.

Skubal has a 57-39 record and a 3.06 ERA in seven seasons and 144 games (141 starts) for the Tigers since 2020, striking out 934 batters while walking 178.

–Field Level Media