Draft day for any league, team or even fan is always exciting. Fans are sitting on the edges of their seats wondering who their teams will select, and, likewise, athletes and members of a team are wondering where they’ll call home next. 

The June 17th Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft was exciting for reasons beyond these. Fans and athletes were sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation, but its popularity and draftees painted a larger picture: everyone watches women’s hockey. The draft and the selections were the smaller part of what the event represented, and how the popularity for women’s hockey remains on the rise. 

The Process 

The PWHL started in January of 2024, and by the end of their second season in 2025, they were already eyeing expansion. They started with 6 teams and after Year 2, they expanded to 8, adding in a west coast element with Vancouver and Seattle getting a team. 

Year 3 proved that their popularity was only going to keep growing, and amid selling out  Takeover Tours all over Canada and the United States, the PWHL added four more teams. Detroit, San Jose, Hamilton, and Las Vegas all got the nod to be home to women’s hockey, and the addition of a non National Hockey League (NHL) team in Hamilton, Ontario proved that the league was viable and self-sufficient. 

But with expansion comes expansion drafts, and that’s where the heartbreak starts. In the 2026 draft, the Vancouver Goldeneyes were poised to make the first overall selection, followed by the Seattle Torrent, and then the new Detroit and San Jose PWHL teams. Following the USA Women’s Hockey team’s phenomenal performance in the 2026 Winter Olympics, there were many exciting names in the draft pool, and 2026’s draft was shaping up to be the most exciting draft to date. 

“My goal is to give back a fraction of what the game has given me.”

Laila Edwards

The Draft 

This year’s draft was held on June 17th in Detroit, Michigan. In their first selection, the Goldeneyes surprised absolutely nobody by selecting Caroline “KK” Harvey first overall. The 23 year old played at the University of Wisconsin (UW) and is coming off winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship as well as an Olympic Gold Medal. 

“I mean, it could have been anyone,” the ever so humble Harvey said after the draft. “It’s just a surreal feeling, and I had no idea . . . but I’m grateful to have my name called.”

And seated beside her throughout the whole thing? New PWHL Las Vegas addition, Laila Edwards. The 22 year old went 4th overall to Vegas, and beyond being Harvey’s teammate at UW, the two are also close friends. 

“It was really special,” Edwards said after hearing her best friend’s name called. “We’ve been talking about this moment for a long time, but nothing can really prepare you for it.” 

And as for Edwards’ skill, Harvey only had positive thoughts. “She can slow the game down or also turn on the jets kind of like no other . . . her IQ is off the charts.” 

Beyond the two more popular names in the draft, there were other exciting selections. With the second overall pick, Seattle chose forward Abbey Murphy. Murphy, 24, also played at UW and led the league at goals per game with 1.29 In Seattle, she will also be reunited with Alex Carpenter, who was her teammate on Team USA. 

“I’m excited to be reunited with Carp,” Murphy said when asked about her new team. “I’ve learned so much from her.” 

Overall, UW had a solid run at the 2026 Draft. Forward Kristin Simms, who starred on the Team USA roster that won gold, went 8th overall to the Toronto Sceptres. The UW athlete going 8th overall was a shock to many, but Sceptres General Manager Gina Kingsbury spoke about how happy the organization was to have her. “(Simms) can score goals in all different situations and scenarios — you can’t pass that type of offense up.”

The Aftermath

Though everyone was excited about the draft, Lalia Edwards summed it up best. “My goal is to give back a fraction of what the game has given me.”

Beyond the athletes and selections, the 2026 PWHL Draft represented a bigger cause: the growth of women’s hockey. For a league that started after the previous women’s league was disbanded due to lack of support, 12 teams and two expansions later encapsulate just how popular the league has become. 

Each year, the draft has more and more exciting prospects. They showcase the elite talent that programs like the NCAA has, but more than that, they provide us with a glimpse into the future of women’s hockey.  It’s unknown, exciting, and most of all, here to stay.