DETROIT — The Vancouver Goldeneyes selected defender Caroline Harvey first overall in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League (P.W.H.L.) draft on Wednesday, marking a historic moment as she became the first defender ever chosen with the top pick in the league’s history. The draft took place at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

Harvey, 23, who was widely regarded as the leading prospect in the 2026 draft class, has already established herself as a standout player on the international stage. Prior to the draft, she earned numerous accolades, including the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best player in women’s college hockey, and was named the International Ice Hockey Federation’s female player of the year. She helped lead the Wisconsin Badgers to their third national championship and was named the Most Valuable Player of the recent Winter Olympics hockey tournament in Milan-Cortina, where she set a new scoring record for an American defender with nine points in seven games. Harvey also secured Olympic gold alongside the United States team.

Vancouver’s general manager, Cara Gardner Morey, emphasized the importance of strengthening the team’s defensive core. “To have one of the best ones in the country, North America, probably in the world right now, is pretty special,” she said.

Harvey’s selection follows three consecutive years in which forwards were chosen first overall. She currently ranks as the third-highest-scoring defender in Women’s World Championship history, trailing only Finland’s Jenni Hiirikoski and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero.

In a poignant moment following the draft, Harvey waited behind the stage to see her longtime friend and teammate Laila Edwards selected fourth overall by the San Jose expansion franchise. The pair have shared a lengthy journey through high school, college at Wisconsin, and international competition, including winning Olympic gold together. Edwards was visibly emotional after Harvey’s selection, saying, “We’ve been talking about this moment for a long time.”

The first round of the draft featured several players who were recent Olympic gold medalists. With the second pick, the Seattle Torrent selected forward Abbey Murphy. The Las Vegas expansion franchise, using a pick acquired from Detroit, took center Tessa Janecke third overall. Las Vegas continued its selections by choosing Wisconsin forward Lacey Eden at fifth. Other first-round choices included Finnish defender Nelli Laitinen at sixth to Hamilton, Emma Peschel to New York at seventh, and forwards Kirsten Simms, Sara Swiderski, Grace Dwyer, Vivian Jungels, and Petra Nieminen filling out picks eight through twelve to Toronto, Minnesota, Boston, Ottawa, and Montreal respectively.

The draft represents a significant step forward for the P.W.H.L., which is now entering its second season with the goal of establishing a sustainable platform for professional women’s hockey. The additions to Vancouver and the expansion teams reflect the league’s ongoing commitment to competitive balance and international talent integration.