2026 PWHL Draft: Top 15 NCAA prospects to watch this season
The 2025-26 NCAA Women’s Hockey season is underway, and while we’re excited to see what some of the best players in the world are going to do, it’s worth taking a peek at the names that will be making an impact at the next level.
From the big guns on the defending national championship squad at Wisconsin, to other big names in the WCHA, with a few dark horses coming out of the ECAC and Hockey East, there are several players that will be hearing their names called at the 2026 PWHL Draft, better known as “The Wisconsin Draft.” Remember in 2024 when Ohio State took over the draft? Well, 2026 is going to be the year the Badgers fill up the board.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 prospects looking to round out their college careers on a high note this season:
1. Kirsten Simms, F (Wisconsin)
Whether it be the ice in her veins, the exceptional playmaking ability, or her ridiculous hands, Simms is one of the most dynamic players in the game, college or pro. She showed her game-changing abilities when it mattered most, scoring the tying and winning goals in the NCAA Championship Game against Ohio State. She’s been one of the best players in college hockey for the past couple of years and is an early favorite to win the Patty Kazmaier Award this year.
2. Caroline Harvey, D (Wisconsin)
Another player who could be taking home some hardware this year is Caroline Harvey. Few players in the game can be as versatile at both ends of the rink, while still maintaining a proper defensive posture. She exploded for 63 points last season with the Badgers, good for fourth in the nation in scoring, while also posting an impressive +75 plus/minus. If she plays her cards right, she might leapfrog her teammate and be taken first overall next summer.
3. Laila Edwards, F (Wisconsin)
Imposing, Strong. Freight Train. There are many ways to describe Edwards. She has one of the hardest shots in all of hockey, which led to her leading the NCAA with 35 goals a year ago, and was one of the three Badgers to be a finalist for the Patty Kaz. She inserted herself into the spotlight after being named the MVP of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship, and has only become better since. Along with being a star on the college and international scene, she has the ability to be a force in the pretty rough PWHL.
4. Abbey Murphy, F (Minnesota)
Had she decided to forgo playing a fifth season with the Golden Gophers, Murphy would’ve been taken first overall by the New York Sirens this past June. However, she decided to take one more kick at the can (and one more shot at the Patty Kaz). There’s so much to like about the 23-year-old. She’s physical, tenacious, and, by golly, can she put the puck in the back of the net. She’s potted 33 goals in each of the past two seasons and has the tools to be a big-time player right away in the P-Dub.
5. Tessa Janecke, F (Penn State)
Let’s get out of the WCHA, shall we? To the naked eye, Janecke’s numbers with the Nittany Lions might seem a little inflated, playing in the lower-tier AHA. However, on top of the fact that she’s helped Penn State win three straight conference championships, she has been one of Team USA’s more important players. She shone on a line with Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight at last year’s Women’s Worlds and is expected to be a key asset in the United States’ quest for gold at the upcoming Olympics. Her vision, speed, and finish have made her one of the most prominent scorers in college hockey since her freshman season.
6. Lacey Eden, F (Wisconsin)
Like Murphy, had Eden entered last year’s draft, it would’ve been no surprise if she were one of the first few names called. However, getting the opportunity to play a fifth season and pursue a fourth national title was something she couldn’t pass up. Another player expected to represent the U.S. in Milan, Eden can be utilized in a variety of roles in a team’s forward group, and still find a way to contribute offensively. Great hands and solid playmaking ability are reasons she’ll finish her college career with well over 200 points.
7. Emma Peschel, D (Ohio State)
The first defender in next year’s draft, for now, will be a player who lost to the Badgers last spring (even though OSU got its revenge the year before). Peschel has always been an exceptional defensive asset for Nadine Muzzerall’s squad, but only over the past couple of years has she shown that she can be an offensive weapon as well. Taking over for the departed Cayla Barnes last year, the Edina, Minn. native posted a career-best 34 points, earning All-WCHA First Team honors.
8. Elysaa Biederman, F (Colgate)
It’s strange to think that Biederman outscored her teammate, and eventual No. 1 pick, Kristýna Kaltounková, last season. Yet, the Franklin, Mich. native did just that, and is expected to lead a Raiders team that has hopes to challenge for an ECAC crown this season. Biederman has posted back-to-back 50-point seasons and was named Second Team All-ECAC last year. A definitive playmaker, she’s a lethal asset on any team’s power play.
9. Emma-Sofie Nordström, G (St. Lawrence)
This year’s draft class is similar to last year’s…not necessarily filled with star power, but could provide teams with solid netminders. Nordström is by far at the top of the list. She’s part of a competitive, but not the strongest, team in St. Lawrence. However, that hasn’t deterred the Danish backstop from being a consistent stalwart between the pipes. Her numbers have been constant, registering over .930 save percentages in each of the last two seasons.
10. Rhea Hicks, F (Clarkson)
Hicks is looking to continue the influx of Clarkson talent heading to the PWHL. After Haley Winn, Nicole Gosling and Anne Cherkowski were taken in the 2025 draft, Hicks has the talent to be taken high in next year’s draft, if not the first round. Sure, her injury history would make her a risk, but if she can build off an impressive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 38 points in 40 games, it’d be hard to pass up her versatile offensive attack.
11. Nelli Laitinen, D (Minnesota)
A blueliner with loads of international experience, Laitinen is a reliable defender with the ability to contribute on the offensive side of things as well. She’s averaged over 20 points as a Golden Gopher and can be a key player in keeping the team near the top of the WCHA standings. Laitinen has played on the big stage for several years, having played for the Finnish National Team since the age of 16.
12. Issy Wunder, F (Princeton)
You’d have to…Wunder…where this Tiger will go in next year’s draft. While everyone was oodling over the talent in the WCHA last season, Wunder was probably the quietest 50-point scorer in college hockey. With Sarah Fillier off to the PWHL, the Toronto native exploded for career highs in goals (26) and points (50), earning First Team All-ECAC honors. She proved, with an elevated role, that she can be a difference maker with her scoring prowess and awareness.
13. Grace Dwyer, D (Cornell)
On a Cornell squad that was one of the best defensive teams in the country last year, the elder Dwyer stood out as an exceptional presence in front of Annelies Bergmann. She will not wow you with her offensive numbers, but she’s a reliable penalty killer and uses quick feet to stop oncoming attackers on a consistent basis. If the Big Red manage to make another strong run in the national tournament, Dwyer will be one of the reasons for the team’s success.
14. Tova Henderson, D (Minnesota Duluth)
One of the more experienced players on a young Bulldogs team, this could be a real “prove-it” season for Henderson. She really came out of her shell last season, setting career highs in all offensive categories, notching 20 points in 39 games. Henderson led a D-corps in Duluth that finished second in the WCHA in goals against, only trailing Wisconsin. If she can find that offensive spark in her final year of college hockey, and continue to be a strong presence in her own zone, Henderson will be playing a pivotal role on a PWHL team this time next year.
15. Vivian Jungels, D (Wisconsin)
The last of the Badgers on this list might not have the eye-popping numbers as some of the other teammates, but her dependability on the defensive side of the puck makes Jungels a top prospect next season. She hasn’t quite had the offensive numbers she produced during her freshman campaign, but if put with the right players, she can be an exceptional two-way player.
Honorable Mention: Katie DeSa (G, Penn State), Katelyn Roberts (F, Penn State), Sena Catterall (F, Clarkson), Emerson O’Leary (F, Princeton)
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