The PWHL's 2025 Draft declaration period is officially open. Running from March 1 to May 8, collegiate players and players from overseas can now declare themselves eligible for the 2025 PWHL Draft.

Last year, Sarah Fillier became the first overall draft pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft selected by the New York Sirens. She followed Taylor Heise who was the first overall pick in the inaugural 2023 PWHL Draft.

During the 2024 PWHL Draft Declaration period, a few surprises arose. Among those were the draft eligibility of Amanda Kessel, Julia Gosling leaving the NCAA a year early to declare, and Russian Ilona Markova declaring. 

Kessel was selected in the final round of the draft but chose not to play in the PWHL. Gosling was a first round pick of the Toronto Sceptres, and Markova was eventually selected by the Boston Fleet but was cut in training camp.

The PWHL has yet to announced a date, format, or details for the 2025 PWHL Draft. Those specifics will come after any potential expansion announcement from the league.

Looking at the 2025 PWHL Draft class, two wildcards exist in Abbey Murphy and Lacey Eden, who could both technically return for another season in the NCAA. Both players have been with their NCAA programs for five seasons already, but have an extra year of eligibility due to both COVID-19 and the Olympic year.

Other top players expected to declare from the NCAA including Casey O'Brien, Haley Winn, Kristyna Kaltounkova, Nicole Gosling, Rory Guilday, Natalie Mlynkova, Sanni Ahola, and Anne Cherkowski. From Europe, there are more question marks. One player likely to declare is Finland's Viivi Vainikka, as well as Sweden's Sara Hjalmarsson.

The Draft declaration period will close May 8.