The 2026 PWHL Draft will be one like no other the league has seen. With the Olympics in the rearview mirror, it's believe European players will begin to mobilize toward the league. The NCAA cohort, however, provides unprecedented top end talent and depth that will impact current PWHL rosters positively, and could be used as justification for yet another expansion.
Here's a look at players available. We've broken it down into "A" through "C" Prospects from the NCAA, U Sports, and North American pros playing overseas with "A" meaning they are an expected pick in the top two rounds, "B" signifying a rounds 3-4 prospect, and "C" being a possible 5-6 round pick or free agent invite.
We also created a list of European players who will be coming off their contracts in the SDHL, SWHL, EWHL, or DFEL who could declare. For this category, players marked with an asterisk (*) are those currently anticipated to declare.
North America: "A" Prospects
- Caroline Harvey, D, Wisconsin / Team USA
- Laila Edwards, F, Wisconsin / Team USA
- Abbey Murphy, F, Minnesota / Team USA
- Tessa Janecke, F, Penn State / Team USA
- Kirsten Simms, F, Wisconsin / Team USA
- Lacey Eden, F, Wisconsin / Team USA
- Nelli Laitinen, D, Minnesota / Team Finland
- Sydney Morrow D, Minnesota
- Emma Peschel, D, Ohio State
North America: "B" Prospects
- Sarah Paul, F, Princeton
- Issy Wunder, F, Princeton
- Elyssa Biederman, F, Colgate
- Thea Johansson, F, Minnesota-Duluth / Team Sweden
- Vivian Jungels, D, Wisconsin
- Tova Henderson, D, Minnesota-Duluth
North America: "C" Prospects
- Grace Elliot, F, British Columbia
- Jamie Nelson, F, Minnesota
- Grace Dwyer, D, Cornell
- Alyssa Regalado, D, Cornell
- Rhea Hicks, F, Clarkson
- Avi Adam, F, Cornell
- Reichen Kirchmair, F, Providence
- Sena Catterall, F, Clarkson
- Emerson O’Leary, F, Princeton
- Sara Swiderski, D, Ohio State
- Brooke Disher, D, Ohio State
- Sydney Healey, F, Boston University
- Ashley Messier, D, Minnesota-Duluth
- Katelyn Roberts, F, Penn State
- Danielle Burgen, F, Minnesota-Duluth
- Taylor Otremba, F, Minnesota State
- Jade Iginla, F, Brown
- Carina DiAntonio, F, Yale
- Madelyn Christian, F, Penn State
- Casey Borgiel, D, Colgate
- Jordan Ray, F, Yale
- Kendall Butze, D, Penn State
- Sydney Pedersen, D, MoDo
- Lindsay Agnew, D, Linkoping
- Jenna Goodwin, F, Frolunda
- Katie Chan, F, Farjestad
- Sarah Marchand, F, MoDo
- MaryKate O'Brien, F, Minnesota-Duluth
- Neena Brick, F, MoDo
- Alyssa McLeod, F, MoDo
- Kaitlin Jockins, F, Djurgardens
- Melissa Jefferies, D, Frolunda
- Sara Boucher, F, Rogle
- Julie Gough, F, Farjestad
- Teghan Inglis, D, HV71
- Kennedy Bobyck, F, HV71
- Julia Nearis, F, HV71
- Rachel Weiss, F, HV71
- Adriana Van de Leest, D, HV71
- Sophie Helgeson, D, Linkoping
European Prospects
- Viivi Vainikka, F, Brynas (*)
- Elisa Holopainen, F, Frolunda (*)
- Petra Nieminen, F, Lulea (*)
- Sanni Rantala, D, Frolunda (*)
- Lara Stalder, F,
- Michela Pejzlova, F
- Hanna Thuvik, F, Brynas (*)
- Emma Forsgren, D, Djurgardens
- Paula Bergstrom, D, Frolunda (*)
- Sara Cajanova, D, Brynas
- Jennina Nylund, F, Brynas (*)
- Nadia Mattivi, D, Lulea
- Emilia Vesa, F, Frolunda
- Sofie Lundin, F, Frolunda
- Elin Svensson, F, Brynas (*)
- Julia Liikala, F,
- Emily Nix, F, Frolunda (*)
- Haruka Toko, F, Linkoping
- Linnéa Johansson, F, Lulea
- Ida Kuoppala, F, Skelleftea
Goaltenders To Watch
- Tia Chan, G, UConn
- Kate DeSa, G, Penn State
- Ena Nystrom, G, Bynas
- Stephanie Neatby, G, HV71
- Emma-Sofie Nordström, G, St. Lawrence
- Hailey MacLeod, G, Ohio State