Wisconsin saw five players selected in the first round of the 2026 PWHL Draft. Their incoming class of recruits will have the tall task of replacing those stars, but the talented cohort appears up to the job.
The University of Wisconsin are the back-to-back NCAA national champions, and they do it not through the transfer portal, but through constant recruitment of the top young players in the world.
Wisconsin's incoming 2026-27 recruiting class is no exception.
At the 2026 PWHL Draft, Wisconsin watched Caroline Harvey (Vancouver, first overall), Laila Edwards (San Jose, fourth overall), Lacey Eden (Las Vegas, fifth overall), Kirsten Simms (Toronto, eighth overall), and Vivian Jungels (Ottawa, eleventh overall) all picked in the first round.
It was a clear indication of Wisconsin's talent. The PWHL itself is loaded with Wisconsin alumni including Daryl Watts, Britta Curl-Salemme, Abby Roque, Hilary Knight, Blayre Turnbull, Abby Roque, Casey O'Brien, Sarah Nurse, Jesse Compher, Sarah Wozniewicz, Emily Clark, Maddi Wheeler, Anna Wilgren, Sophie Shirley, Dara Greig, Natalie Buchbinder, Mellissa Channell-Watkins, Ann-Renee Desbiens, and Kristen Campbell are all Badgers alumnae.
And a new wave is about to arrive with a major task of replacing one of Wisconsin's best-ever graduating classes.
2026-27 Wisconsin Women's Hockey Recruiting Class
Nela Lopusanova, F, Slovakia
To say people have been anxiously awaiting Nela Lopusanova's arrival at the NCAA level would be an understatement. The dynamic forward and human highlight reel left Slovakia to get to the NCAA sooner via the storied Bishop Kearney program where she's been a dominant presence. With the departure of top forwards, Lopusanova might get a larger role than recruits of the past, and she's capable of handling it.
Rosalie Tremblay, F, Canada
A dominant goal scorer coming from Stanstead College in Quebec, Tremblay had 55 goals and 117 points in 57 games this season. She added seven points in six games for Canada at the U-18 World Championships, and was named the Canadian national championships MVP, leading Quebec to the province's first ever national title. She could contribute immediately.
Haley Box, F, USA
Haley Box made the unorthodox decision for an American prospect to cross the border to play in Canada, but she did it to be in the most NCAA-like league in the world, the OWHL with the Etobicoke Dolphins. She played on a team where all 19 players were committed to NCAA D1 programs scoring 37 goals and 66 points in 45 games. Box was a three-time member of USA's U-18 national team winning two World Championship gold medals and a silver.
Maddy Kimbrel, F, USA
Kimbrel won a national championship this season, a U-18 World Championship gold medal with Team USA, and was named Minnesota's Ms. Hockey, a heralded award that many former PWHL players have claimed. She even chose to cross enemy lines from Minnesota to Wisconsin. The right wing finished her season with 37 goals and 57 points in 37 games this season with Holy Family Catholic.
Other Recruits To Watch: Emma Cerruti, Kayla Swartout, Shayla Beaudette
