DETROIT (AP) 鈥� Established veterans Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin helped deliver a post-Olympic boost to the coming out of the Milan Cortina Games in February.
On Wednesday, it was the youngsters鈥� turn to take the spotlight at the draft.
In being selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, U.S. national team and Wisconsin defender kicked off a parade of 14 2026 Olympians 鈥� five of them Americans 鈥� taking downtown Detroit’s Fox Theater stage during the six-round event.
was regarded as the league鈥檚 deepest and most talented and was one of the reasons behind the PWHL adding four new markets, growing to 12 teams entering its fourth season. It’s also why Harvey experienced nerves before finally hearing her name called.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always this, you have no idea until you officially hear it,鈥� said Harvey, who kicked off the day being named the .
鈥淭his draft class is just so deep and so many phenomenal players. Anyone could get picked at any time,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a surreal feeling, and I had no idea. I mean it could have been anyone. But I鈥檓 grateful to have my name called.鈥�
Draft features tears and cheers
The draft was held in one of the PWHL鈥檚 new markets and featured its share of tears and cheers.
Seated next to Harvey, grew emotional while congratulating her longtime friend and teammate upon being selected.
鈥淚t caught me off guard. After I gave her a hug I started crying, and I couldn鈥檛 stop,鈥� said Edwards, who was chosen fourth by San Jose. The 22-year-old Edwards is from Cleveland, and became the first Black player selected in the first round of the PWHL draft.
As for the cheers, they rang out any time Detroit or Knight 鈥� the 鈥� were mentioned. And the biggest roar in the packed theater was heard when Detroit finally made its first selection in the second round by choosing Switzerland Olympic goalie Andrea Brandli.
The 29-year-old Brandli鈥檚 selection was key for Detroit, with 鈥� a former goalie 鈥� growing nervous because she had had yet to fill the position.
As for the welcome she received, Rheaume said: 鈥淚 got like emotional walking there … And I think everybody felt it, every player that was getting drafted.鈥�
This was the atmosphere the PWHL has become accustomed to generating while growing its brand in the wake of the Americans鈥� thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada in the Olympic final. The win created a surge of attention for women’s hockey in North America, with Knight and gold medal-clinching goal-scorer Megan Keller .
鈥淢ilan was just one of those amazing things that keeps happening to us,鈥� PWHL executive board member Stan Kasten told The Associated Press. 鈥淵ou see what the city of Detroit is going to do for this team, right? We just think the more people that get exposed, the more fans we make.鈥�
Americans fill top 5 selections
On Wednesday, Americans swept the top five picks and made up nine of 12 first-round selections, with the 23-year-old Harvey continuing to cement her reputation as her generation鈥檚 most accomplished player.
She鈥檚 a two-time Olympian and was the tournament MVP in Milan. At Wisconsin, she won three NCAA titles and capped her four-year career winning the as college hockey鈥檚 MVP.
From Pelham, New Hampshire, Harvey is the second American player to go No. 1 after Minnesota chose Taylor Heise in the league鈥檚 inaugural draft in 2023.
鈥淪he鈥檚 actually just at the start of her career, which is crazy, and she鈥檚 coming in with all these accolades,鈥� Goldeneyes GM Cara Gardner Morey said, before emphasizing the priority PWHL teams place on defense. 鈥淭o have one of the best ones in the country, in North America, probably in the world right now is pretty special.鈥�
Fellow U.S. Olympians followed with Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy chosen second by Seattle, Penn State forward Tessa Janecke going third to Las Vegas. After Edwards went fourth, Wisconsin forward Kirsten Simms rounded them out, going eighth to Toronto.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bittersweet,鈥� Simms said of watching many of her Badgers鈥� teammates go their separate ways. 鈥淚鈥檓 just happy for all of them. They鈥檙e unbelievable players and unbelievable people and so every team is super lucky. But, obviously, I鈥檓 gonna miss them.鈥�
Finland national team defender Nelli Laitinen was the first European player selected, going No. 6 to Hamilton. The first Canadian selected was Ohio State defender Sara Swiderski, who went ninth overall to Minnesota.
Overall, 31 Americans and 30 Canadians were among the 72 players selected with Finland having four.
Las Vegas lands 3 of top 13 selections
Las Vegas finished having three picks among the top 13. Janecke was selected with the pick Las Vegas acquired in . Las Vegas then used its fifth pick to select Wisconsin’s Lacey Eden, women’s college hockey’s leading scorer last season. The team then traded forward Abby Boreen back to Vancouver to acquire the Goldeneyes’ first pick of the second round and select Princeton forward Issy Wunder.
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