After leading the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team to an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA national championship and winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in women’s NCAA hockey, it appears Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey is going to be at the top of another list soon.
Harvey is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this Wednesday’s Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft at the Fox Theater in Detroit. Harvey’s season was so dominant that she is expected to change the salary structure for the top players in this year’s draft.
A few of Harvey’s teammates are expected to also walk across the stage early as four Wisconsin players could be chosen in the opening round. Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms and Lacey Edens are all expected to be chosen by the 10th selection in the draft. Vivian Jungels will likely be selected in the second round.
Other former Wisconsin players eligible to be selected in the draft include McKayla Zilisch, Brette Pettet, Sophie Helgeson and Maddie Posick. Pettet’s and Posick’s last year was 2022. Helgeson’s final season was 2024.
Plover native Alexandria Weiss, who played at Mercyhurst and Syracuse, is also eligible to be drafted. Her last collegiate season was in 2024.
Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News has ranked his top 125 players in the draft, including five Badgers in the top 17:
1. Caroline Harvey
“Olympic MVP. Olympic Best Defender. WCHA Player of the Year. WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. Harvey is an incredible player on and off the puck. No one in this draft skates like she does.”
3. Laila Edwards
“Edwards was an Olympic All-Star. She has unique size, a unique shot, sees the ice well, and in the PWHL is going to be a superstar on and off the ice for how she can impact a team.”
5. Kirsten Simms
“Beyond creative, and one of the most competitive players on the ice. She’s going to make a few PWHL defenders look silly and bring fans out of their seats.”
7. Lacey Eden
“Eden is a 200-foot player who has checked with USA, and finished the 2025-26 season as the top scorer in NCAA hockey. The only player ever to win four NCAA titles. “
17. Vivian Jungels
“Good skater, who moves pucks up ice effectively and defends using her mobility and stick. Often overlooked on a strong Wisconsin team.”
Here are a quck glance at Wednesday night’s event:
When is the PWHL draft?
What channel is the PWHL Draft on?
The draft is being streamed on the league’s YouTube channel.
What is the PWHL draft format?
The draft has six rounds with 12 picks in each round.
What is the PWHL draft order?
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How many Wisconsin players will be taken in the first round of the PWHL draft?
Reporting by Emmett Prosser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emmett Prosser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
