With another round of expansion expected in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the league’s 2026 draft will be key to welcoming more talent.
For the PWHL, it’s a potentially generational draft. There will be strong players, like Finland’s Petra Nieminen, heading to the PWHL from international sources, but the bulk of that talent is coming from the NCAA.
The 2026 PWHL Draft class is headlined by senior national team members from top-ranked NCAA women’s hockey programs, such as Wisconsin and Minnesota. Here’s a look at the current top 10 NCAA women’s hockey prospects who will be high selections at the draft.
Top 10 PWHL Draft prospects playing NCAA hockey
1. Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey
Harvey is arguably the best defender on the planet. Already a two-time World Championship Best Defender, back-to-back WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-American. Her mobility, physicality, and ability to control the pace of play with the puck are elite. Harvey currently sits seven points up, leading the NCAA in scoring with 41 points in 20 games. She’s a generational talent.
2. Minnesota right wing Abbey Murphy
She’s a pest, walking the line between physical and penalty, and above all, she’s one of the best goal scorers in the world. Murphy combines speed, a wicked shot, and an agitator mindset into a highly effective package. Murphy, a star for USA’s national team, projects as a top-10 scorer for years.
3. Wisconsin right wing/defender Laila Edwards
Edwards is a versatile and unique prospect who transitioned to defense from forward after being named the 2024 World Championship MVP as a forward. She will have one of the most potent shots in the PWHL, and her 6-foot-1 frame is a unique attribute among women’s hockey players. Edwards sees the ice well, and while she can score from anywhere with her shot, she’s also an adept playmaker.
4. Penn State center Tessa Janecke
Power and speed are Janecke’s calling cards. She’ll be a top-line player in the PWHL as a rookie, and she is a key member of USA’s national team, scoring the golden goal in overtime at the 2025 World Championship. Janecke combines a two-way presence and high-end compete level to form a style that should meld perfectly into the PWHL. She’s helped build Penn State from a program toiling in a weaker AHA conference to a nationally ranked contender.
5. Minnesota defender Nelli Laitinen
In a league lacking defensive talent, Laitinen, already a longtime veteran of Finland’s senior national team, will be a welcome addition to any PWHL blueline. She plays a more conservative game than some prospects but is an intelligent transitional player, making smart puck choices at the offensive blueline and strong outlets from her zone. She’s shown significant offensive growth this season.
6. Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden
A scorer at the NCAA level, Eden has mastered her role as a two-way checking line forward for USA’s national team. She’s effective on the forecheck, using her speed and willingness to engage in puck battles along the wall. Offensively, Eden should factor into a PWHL second line next season, but when games get tight, she can shift to a checking-line role to help maintain a lead.
7. Wisconsin left wing Kirsten Simms
A final-three candidate for the Patty Kazmaier Award, Simms is a wizard with the puck. She uses heel-to-heel skating to keep the ice open in front of her but can pivot on a dime and makes opponents look silly with deceptive stickwork. Last year, she scored the tying goal for Wisconsin with 18 seconds remaining on a penalty shot and the winner only minutes into overtime to secure a national title for the Badgers.
8. Ohio State defender Emma Peschel
Peschel uses her 5-foot-10 frame effectively in all three zones. She’s quietly been one of the best defenders in NCAA hockey, contributing on both sides of the puck and using her mobility to take away time and space while defending. Peschel earned recognition by winning a spot in USA’s 30-player Olympic pool ahead of dozens of American PWHL defenders.
9. Minnesota defender Sydney Morrow
One of the best offensive defenders in NCAA hockey, Morrow is a threat to join the rush and loves to slide in from the blueline to find soft space as a shooting option. Unafraid to use her body, Morrow’s physicality will translate well to the hard-hitting PWHL. Morrow is scoring at a point per game this season with the Golden Gophers and does a lot of her damage at 5-on-5.
10. Princeton center Issy Wunder
Wunder is a power forward overlooked by Canada’s national program despite being one of the top scorers in NCAA women’s hockey the past two seasons. Wunder uses her 5-foot-11 frame and is equal parts playmaker and power forward, attributes that will lend well to the PWHL game. Has immense upside.
