September 23, 2026 • 9:03 PM EDT
Updated 1 hours ago
Kim Weiss is about to set a new pace for women’s hockey in Las Vegas. After two years as an assistant coach in the American Hockey League, Weiss has taken on the role of head coach for Las Vegas’s brand new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) franchise. This is a big move, but not a surprising one if you know her background. Weiss has deep experience working with Team USA over the last four years, so she’s been following the PWHL’s growth very closely — making her transition into this league a natural fit.
What’s different about Vegas is the ambition and spotlight. With games set for T-Mobile Arena and Lee’s Family Forum, places that already host top-flight hockey, expectations are sky high. You’re talking about a city where the NHL’s Golden Knights snagged a Stanley Cup and the Aces have taken three of the past four WNBA titles. Settling for “good enough” just won’t cut it here.
According to Yahoo Sports, Weiss’s hiring was the first major move by general manager Dominique DiDia. Their history goes back to Trinity College, where DiDia saw Weiss’s leadership from early on. The GM had only 10 days after taking the job before tackling the expansion draft, so having someone she trusted in her corner was vital. DiDia made it clear at the team’s introductory press conferences: their partnership is all about building a unified team culture and aiming for big things from the start.
Weiss isn’t just a pioneer on the women’s side. She broke new ground as an assistant with her own alma mater’s NCAA Division III men’s team in 2023-24 before moving to the AHL with the Avalanche’s top affiliate. That puts her in rare company, with only a handful of women coaching at that level, including Jessica Campbell, who jumped to the NHL ranks in 2024. This experience with both women’s and men’s teams gives Weiss a broad understanding of what high-performance culture really looks like — and why it’s more than lip service.
There’s real momentum for female coaches in the PWHL, too. Five out of 12 teams are now led by women, compared to just two last year. That reflects a league trying to set a new standard for opportunity and visibility. Weiss and DiDia say they’re fueled by Vegas’s surge in women’s sports, pointing to how the Aces have been embraced. Star player Erin Ambrose drove the point home at the team’s first big media event, describing the impact of watching the Aces win and what it means for hockey. Ambrose said, “You look at the way that the Aces have been embraced and what they’ve done to have that female presence here in this city, I think is very important. And for us to add a hockey team here, I’m Canadian. Hockey is everywhere in Canada, but…to see the growth since then this game has skyrocketed for female athletes.”
- Kim Weiss jumps from AHL assistant to lead a new Las Vegas PWHL team, one of the league’s most high-profile expansion franchises.
- The club is still waiting for its team nickname and will play games at major Vegas hockey venues.
- Weiss’s hire was the top priority for GM Dominique DiDia, who shares a long history with her dating back to college hockey.
- The front office is committed to building a strong team identity, with championship culture as the goal from day one.
- PWHL continues boosting opportunities for female leadership — five teams now have women as head coaches, up from two last season.
- Las Vegas’s recent success across pro sports sets serious expectations for this new PWHL squad.
The pressure’s immediate. The Knights made the Cup Finals three times in nine years and won it all in 2023. The Aces have dominated the WNBA. Even if they’re not putting a deadline on winning, DiDia says they can’t ignore the bar that’s been set: “We were at the Aces game last night and you look at the walls, and they’ve got a lot of banners so far. The Knights have been competitive from the moment they started. It’s not only inspiring, but it helped us when we started building our culture, building our core values back in May. Obviously, we want to make the playoffs, but our goal is not to make the playoffs. Our goal’s to win a Walter Cup every season.”
Las Vegas raises the stakes for PWHL expansion
Having a team launch in a city obsessed with winning instantly puts Las Vegas’s PWHL squad under the microscope. They’re aiming higher than just “competitive.” Weiss’s experience across both men’s and women’s hockey, along with DiDia’s front-office urgency, means the team is engineered for results rather than just participation.
Key developments in Las Vegas’s PWHL journey
- Weiss stepped directly from the AHL to lead the expansion franchise.
- The team will start play in major, hockey-proven arenas.
- Female head coaching representation has climbed across the league.
- Vegas’s pro teams have set high expectations for fast success.
Key takeaways for hockey bettors and fans
- Expect Las Vegas to emphasize immediate results — culture is important, but the goal is trophies.
- Weiss’s experience with Team USA and at the AHL/NCAA men’s level offers real insight into her coaching approach.
- The club’s partnership between coach and GM is strong, rooted in shared values and college history.
- This team won’t fly under the radar. The city wants and expects championship runs.
- Look for increased attention on PWHL’s expanding opportunities for female coaches and staff.
- Las Vegas is becoming a serious hub for women’s sports — watch for increased investment and coverage this season.
- Women’s hockey will benefit from the city’s high sports profile and media spotlight.
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