Western Collegiate Hockey Association alums made a major impact on the 2026 Professional Women's Hockey League draft, which was held on Wednesday, June 16, at the Historic Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.
Twenty-three WCHA alums were selected during this year's draft, which picked a total of 72 players during six rounds. The WCHA had the most first-round draft picks of any NCAA Women's Ice Hockey conference, as nine of the 12 first-rounders were from the league.
"This is an exciting draft year with four more PWHL expansion teams, and an amplified opportunity for women’s hockey," said WCHA Commissioner Michelle McAteer. "WCHA players will lead the way, and this is a special group of players and people. They are skilled, talented, and have raised the level of excellence in our sport. They represent some of the best the WCHA has ever produced, and I’m so proud of how they competed and developed in our conference, and I’ll be cheering for them all in their professional careers and beyond."
The 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, WCHA Player and Defender of the Year, Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey, was drafted first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes. The WCHA Forward of the Year, Minnesota's Abbey Murphy, was drafted second overall by the Seattle Torrent. Wisconsin's Laila Edwards went fourth overall to PWHL San Jose while teammate Lacey Eden was the fifth pick and selected by PWHL Las Vegas. Minnesota's Nelli Laitinen was the sixth overall pick and drafted by PWHL Hamilton. Ohio State's Emma Peschel was the seventh pick and drafted by the New York Sirens. Kirsten Simms joined her Badger teammates in the first round, being selected eighth by the Toronto Sceptres. Sara Swiderski was the second Buckeye blueiner drafted in the first round as she was the ninth pick drafted by the Minnesota Frost. Wisconsin's Vivian Jungels rounded out the league's first round picks, going 11th overall to the Ottawa Charge.
For the second straight season, the Buckeyes led the WCHA with the most draft picks, having six players drafted. Wisconsin and Minnesota each had five, followed by Minnesota Duluth with four. Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, and St. Thomas each had one draftee.
Listed below is the complete list of WCHA draftees for 2026.
| Round |
No. |
PWHL Team |
Name |
Pos. |
WCHA TEAM |
| 1 |
1 |
Vancouver Goldeneyes |
Caroline Harvey |
D |
Wisconsin |
| 1 |
2 |
Seattle Torrent |
Abbey Murphy |
F |
Minnesota |
| 1 |
4 |
PWHL San Jose |
Laila Edwards |
D |
Wisconsin |
| 1 |
5 |
PWHL Las Vegas |
Lacey Eden |
F |
Wisconsin |
| 1 |
6 |
PWHL Hamilton |
Nelli Laitinen |
D |
Minnesota |
| 1 |
7 |
New York Sirens |
Emma Peschel |
D |
Ohio State |
| 1 |
8 |
Toronto Sceptres |
Kirsten Simms |
F |
Wisconsin |
| 1 |
9 |
Minnesota Frost |
Sara Swiderski |
F |
Ohio State |
| 1 |
11 |
Ottawa Charge |
Vivian Jungels |
D |
Wisconsin |
| 2 |
14 |
Seattle Torrent |
Sydney Morrow |
D |
Minnesota |
| 2 |
15 |
PWHL Detroit |
Andrea Brändli |
G |
Ohio State |
| 2 |
16 |
PWHL San Jose |
Sloane Matthews |
F |
Ohio State |
| 2 |
17 |
Vancouver Goldeneyes |
Thea Johansson |
F |
Minnesota Duluth |
| 2 |
20 |
Toronto Sceptres |
Jamie Nelson |
F |
Minnesota |
| 3 |
29 |
PWHL Las Vegas |
Josefin Bouveng |
F |
Minnesota |
| 3 |
32 |
Toronto Sceptres |
Brooke Disher |
D |
Ohio State |
| 3 |
34 |
PWHL Detroit |
Mary Kate O'Brien |
F |
Minnesota Duluth |
| 4 |
41 |
PWHL Las Vegas |
Saskia Maurer |
G |
St. Thomas |
| 4 |
45 |
Minnesota Frost |
Tova Henderson |
D |
Minnesota Duluth |
| 4 |
48 |
Montréal Victoire |
Hailey MacLeod |
G |
Ohio State |
| 5 |
55 |
New York Sirens |
Grace Wolfe |
D |
St. Cloud State |
| 6 |
61 |
Vancouver Goldeneyes |
Ashley Messier |
D |
Minnesota Duluth |
| 6 |
71 |
Ottawa Charge |
Taylor Otremba |
F |
Minnesota State |
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.