Vita Ponyatovskaya is a mobile and offensively inclined defender who will be a player to watch in the 2025 PWHL Draft.

The 5-foot-8 right shot blueliner spent the last four seasons with Yale University. Prior to Yale she represented Russia at three straight IIHF U-18 World Championship tournaments. Now,  Ponyatovskaya is excited for a new opportunity at the pro level.

"PWHL is so incredible," Ponyatovskaya told The Hockey News. "Going into college, I thought that my career would be over in four years, and having the league get going was just incredible and inspiring news."

The defender recorded 62 points in 131 career NCAA games with Yale. She likes to join the rush, but can also be evasive with the puck turning it up ice quickly from her own zone, or moving laterally at the offensive blueline to open a shooting or passing lane, or to jump down into the zone.

Ponyatovskaya is strong in puck battles, and has one of the top ratios of takeaways to giveaways in NCAA hockey. She's reliable with pucks, and getting them back for her team.

In the PWHL, Ponyatovskaya should thrive using her skating to activate offensively, and to defend her zone.