2026 PWHL Draft: Final top 25 prospects
We’re going to find out soon where the next wave of stars in the women’s game will be playing next season, as the 2026 PWHL Draft is less than a month away.
This has become one of the more highly anticipated drafts in the league’s young history, not just because of the number of new teams thrown into the pot, but also the massive pool of players looking to find a home in North America. From NCAA products to European stars, this year’s draft is going to be one worth watching.
Let’s look at the 25 best prospects heading into the event:
Honorable Mention:
Meghan Agosta, F
Agosta is certainly the most surprising name to have declared for the draft. She certainly doesn’t have a lacking resume – Three-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time IIHF Women’s World Champion, fourth all-time leading scorer in NCAA Hockey history. However, she hasn’t played since the 2018 Winter Olympics. Yet, the 39-year-old wants to give the PWHL a shot.
Laura Fortino, D (Real Torino, Italy)
Fortino is an interesting name heading into this year’s draft. Her name was thrown around as a candidate for a head coach or general manager role. Yet, she’s decided that she’d rather play in this league. With the Italian National Team, the two-time Olympic medalist was rather impressive at the Olympics in Milan, as well as the D1A Women’s Worlds.
1. Caroline Harvey, D (Wisconsin, NCAA)
Generational talent. International star. Championship pedigree both home and abroad. Caroline Harvey is the uncontested top player heading into this year’s draft, with the Vancouver Goldeneyes having probably the easiest choice to make. I don’t know what more I can say about the Patty Kazmaier winner – she dictates the game in a way that few players in the history of the game have been able to do. She helped the Badgers win three national championships, won two IIHF Women’s World Championships, and was only the best player at the Winter Olympics. Harvey is the type of player who can turn a franchise into a champion.
2. Abbey Murphy, F (Minnesota, NCAA)
I’ll say it before, and I’ll say it again, had she forgone a fifth season at Minnesota, Murphy would’ve been the No. 1 pick last season. However, thanks to trying to compete with someone like Harvey, Murphy’s name is most likely to be called second. That certainly isn’t a slight on her, as she is well-equipped for the pro game. She’s one of the fiercest and most physical players out there, making her an absolute terror to play against. Add to the fact that the Illinois native can light the lamp, Murphy is going to be one of the more exciting players in the PWHL next season.
3. Laila Edwards, F/D (Wisconsin, NCAA)
Physically imposing, Edwards is built for the rough-and-tumble style of play in the PWHL. The fact that she’s one of the more versatile players in the sport, playing both forward and defense with Team USA and Wisconsin, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio native can be used in a variety of roles with whoever picks her. Her defensive game has taken great strides since she was first moved back to defense last year. Thankfully, it hardly hindered her offensive ability, as Edwards has by far the best shot of any player in the draft.
4. Lacey Eden, F (Wisconsin, NCAA)
I’m keeping Eden near the top of the board because she has an awareness that’s among the best in college hockey. Even with the “big guns” going to Milan, the super senior proved she could carry the offensive load herself, leading to her finishing atop the NCAA with 77 points. She’s very creative and an exceptional passer. She can quarterback a power play or play in the middle, and knows how to put the puck in the back of the net herself.
5. Kirsten Simms, F (Wisconsin, NCAA)
Simms might not have been the marquee performer at the Olympics as a couple of her Badger teammates were, but when it came time to step up in the national tournament, the Plymouth, Mich. native was ready to go. When she’s at her best, Simms is very difficult to stop, a water bug of sorts. She’s quick on her feet and can dangle her way out of a supermarket on Black Friday. While Simms isn’t the biggest player in the draft, she more than makes up for it with her skill.
6. Thea Johansson, F (Minnesota Duluth, NCAA)
I might be a little higher on Thea Johansson than most other people, but there’s so much more to her game than she gets credit for. Moving from Mercyhurst to Duluth was huge for her development and made her look more like a legitimate prospect. Along with a wicked release and being a strong skater, the Swede knows where to put herself when she doesn’t have the puck. It’s that mental strength that made her one of the underrated players in the WCHA this year, as well as her country’s leading scorer at the Olympics.
7. Tessa Janecke, F (Penn State, NCAA)
I know some people look at the fact that Janecke failed to reach the 50-point mark for the third year in a row, but the Nittany Lions captain was still one of the top players in the game, driving her team to its best ranking in program history and ending up as a top-three finalist for the Patty Kaz. She’s dynamic with and without the puck, and is relatively reliable in her own zone. She has proven on the international stage that she can hang with Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, giving her an intangible edge that helps her stand out.
8. Andrea Brändli, G (Frölunda HC, SDHL)
Finally.
After years of waiting, the best goaltender outside of North America is finally coming to the PWHL. Brändli made a name for herself coming out of the pandemic by keeping an inferior Swiss team in games against the superpowers in international tournaments, along with standing out as one of the best netminders in the SDHL. Her efforts at the Winter Olympics helped Switzerland claim the bronze medal for the first time since 2014, further bolstering her potential draft stock. With more teams coming into the PWHL this coming year, it goes without saying that she has a No. 1 job in her near future.
9. Petra Nieminen, F (Luleå HF, SDHL)
The top offensive weapon in Europe is ready to give the PWHL a shot. Nieminen has been one of Finland’s biggest names in recent years and has been one of the biggest scoring threats in the SDHL. In her eight seasons with Luleå, she has led the league in goals three times, finishing the past two seasons as its leading point-getter. Nieminen’s a five-time SDHL champion, including being named playoff MVP in 2023. On top of that, she’s helped Suomi win four bronze medals at the Women’s Worlds, two more at the Olympics, and silver at the infamous 2019 world championship.
10. Emma Peschel, D (Ohio State, NCAA)
If you like consistency and reliability, Emma Peschel is the player for you. While she might not be as flashy as Edwards or Harvey, the Edina, Minn. native has become one of the NCAA’s top two-way blueliners over the past couple of years. She’s excellent at thwarting the opposing team’s attack and is efficient at transitioning the puck up the ice. Peschel’s ability to be a contributing factor at both ends of the rink is why she’s one of the top defenders in this draft class.
11. Elisa Holopainen, F (Frölunda HC, SDHL)
The player who has closely trailed Nieminen in the SDHL scoring race in each of the past two years has been Holopainen. Since coming to the league in 2024, she has shown that the scoring touch that made her a star in Finland’s Naisten Liiga could carry over to Europe’s top league, having posted 87 points over the past two campaigns. Last season, she helped Frölunda win the league championship, earning MVP honors. This year, she led the league with 27 goals. Like Nieminen, Holopainen has been a big part of Finland’s success on the world stage.
12. Josefin Bouveng, F (Minnesota, NCAA)
Bouveng fell down some draft boards after a rather mediocre showing in Milan, but it barely takes away from an exceptional final season with the Golden Gophers. She still posted an exceptional 43 points, second only to her 50-point performance during her sophomore campaign. When the Vassunda, Sweden native gets going, she zooms down the ice, making it difficult to slow her down. She might not be a premier scorer in the PWHL right away, but with the right development, she can become a 10-15 goal scorer in the future.
13. Issy Wunder, F (Princeton, NCAA)
A player that I wouldn’t be shocked to get a call from Hockey Canada in the near future, Wunder was an exciting player to watch over the past couple of years at Princeton. The Tigers captain delivered 50 points in her junior year, before adding another 27 goals and 43 points this past season, making her one of the ECAC’s top stars. While she has certified playmaking skills, the Toronto native navigates her way into prime scoring areas, showcasing her exceptional finishing ability.
14. Vivian Jungels, D (Wisconsin, NCAA)
In today’s game, people love to praise the high-scoring defenders, almost forgetting what the title of their position actually is. Vivian Jungels is one of those players who reminds us what a rearguard is supposed to do. Playing on a pair with Harvey for long stretches of the past couple of years, the Edina native is one of the top stay-at-home defensive prospects. She’s excellent at stopping the rush while being a solid puck-mover out of her own zone.
15. Nelli Laitinen, D (Minnesota, NCAA)
Another promising blueliner who has the ability to contribute offensively while being a reliable presence in her own zone, Laitinen has been a fun player to watch in Minneapolis over the past few years. A player that you can trust as much to produce on the power play while getting the job done on the penalty kill. She has showcased that ability on the international stage as well, playing a key part in three WWC bronze-medal performances with Finland, while also winning bronze at the 2022 Olympics.
16. Viivi Vainikka, F (Brynäs IF, SDHL)
The third player from the Finnish clan making the jump to the PWHL, Vainikka has been in the top five in scoring in the SDHL over the past three years, including a career-best 52 points with Luleå in 2023-24. A five-time SDHL champion, the 24-year-old led Brynäs to the title this year, leading all skaters with seven goals. She’s a fantastic playmaker who can step in and contribute on the power play. With so many new teams this year, she’s bound to get an honest look in a top-six somewhere.
17. Tia Chan, G (Connecticut, NCAA)
While Brändli might be the best goaltender entering this year’s draft, Chan is the best “true rookie” goaltender in the pool. She was a big part in helping the Huskies reach the NCAA Tournament twice during her tenure in Storrs. This year, the fifth-year netminder went 27-8-2, tied for the second-most wins in the country. She also finished second in save percentage (.951) and fourth in goals-against average (1.54), along with posting five shutouts, and was named the NCAA’s top women’s goaltender. Maybe not ready to be a starter out of the gate, but could be a solid No. 2 in her rookie season.
18. Elyssa Biederman, F (Colgate, NCAA)
While many were used to watching Danielle Serdachny and Kristyna Kaltounkova lead the Raiders in recent years, Elyssa Biederman has gone under the radar as one of the better offensive weapons in the ECAC. With great hands and wheels, the Detroit native is a lethal asset with the puck. It’s what led her to post 50 points twice in her career at Colgate, narrowly missing out on reaching 20 goals in her final two seasons with the program. That said, Biederman can be a solid secondary scorer on a potential contender.
Extra note: With Detroit getting a team, I wouldn’t be surprised if they pick a local talent early in the draft.
19. Sydney Morrow, D (Minnesota, NCAA)
A stout defender with a knack for scoring, it’s surprising to see how Sydney Morrow doesn’t get the same love as some of the other defenders. She’s averaged well over 30 points over the past three seasons, including a 38-point performance with the Golden Gophers this past year. She isn’t the biggest and fastest blueliner in this class, but she has skill and awareness that set her up for success in the pro ranks.
20. Sloane Matthews, F (Ohio State, NCAA)
Peschel, Joy Dunne, and Jocelyn Amos were the main attractions in Columbus this season, but Matthews bolstered her draft stock thanks to a sensational senior season. The Plymouth, Minn. native had never hit the 30-point mark in her first three seasons as a Buckeye. This year, she set career highs in goals (20), assists (24) and points (44). Underrated shot and vision make her a spark plug on offense. If put in the right spot, she could become a solid two-way player in this league.
21. Lily Shannon, F (Northeastern, NCAA)
After three respectable seasons with the Huskies, Shannon exploded offensively during her senior season. The Northeastern captain posted career-best numbers – 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points. She was named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star, helping the Huskies reach the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four. The only question is, can that production translate to the PWHL? She certainly has the skill and determination to be a contributor, but you never know with players from lower conferences.
22. Grace Dwyer, D (Cornell, NCAA)
One of the top defenders in the ECAC over the past couple of years, Dwyer brought stability to the blue line in her four years with the Big Red and has shown that she can be a solid two-way rearguard at the highest levels. In leading one of the best defenses in college hockey, Dwyer has also reached the 20-point mark twice, helping Cornell reach the Frozen Four in 2025. The 21-year-old was named All-ECAC Third Team in her senior season as well.
23. Emma-Sofie Nordström, G (St. Lawrence, NCAA)
On a rather mediocre Saints team, Nordström played well for the most part this year, though an injury late in the year caused her to miss the final few weeks of her senior season. She still had pretty solid numbers, going 7-8-1 with a 2.25 GAA, a .931 SV% and two shutouts. The Danish netminder is on the taller side, standing 5-foot-10, and moves well in the crease. She’s also comfortable with getting a heavy workload, as half of her appearances this past season saw her face over 30 shots. Nordström is another netminder who will be the beneficiary of new franchises entering the PWHL next year, as she could find substantial playing time in her first year.
24. Rhea Hicks, F (Clarkson, NCAA)
Hicks fell down my board after a tough season. With a Golden Knights team that saw a lot of changeover after losing the likes of Anne Cherkowski, Haley Winn and Nicole Gosling, Hicks wasn’t able to produce as much as she had during her junior season, in which she set career highs in goals (14) and points (38). Yet, if she’s put in the right situation, she can certainly be an effective player in the pro game.
25. Lilli Welcke, Luisa Welcke F (Boston University, NCAA)
Rounding out the list are two prospects from Germany, who just happen to be twins. Starting off with Luisa, she has great awareness and vision that has made her an exceptional player on the international stage, as well as with the Terriers. Her production subsided on a pretty mediocre BU team this year, but she has speed and a scoring touch that could be used in a depth role in the PWHL. Many of Luisa’s traits are evident in Lilli, though she might have a slightly more playmaker’s mindset than her sister. L
The 2026 PWHL Draft is scheduled to be held at the historic Fox Theatre in Detroit, home of one of the league’s newest franchises, on June 17.