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Caroline Harvey Poised to Be No. 1 Pick in 2026 PWHL Draft

Her recent Olympic MVP and college awards make her the leading prospect as the PWHL prepares a draft that will supply new roster spots and marketable stars.

Overview

  • Multiple outlets and officials project Caroline Harvey to be the first overall selection by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the PWHL draft that takes place on Wednesday in Detroit.
  • Harvey earned the Olympic tournament MVP while winning gold for the U.S. in February and then won the Patty Kazmaier Award and a national title with Wisconsin this spring.
  • Scouts and coaches praise her elite skating, playmaking as an offensive-minded defender and improved physical readiness after a left-knee injury in 2023 that led her to focus on off-ice balance.
  • Harvey and teammate Laila Edwards have built large social followings and brand partnerships that they expect to use to supplement PWHL pay, a model teams see as adding commercial value to rookies.
  • The league’s rapid expansion has created 104 new roster spots and a record draft pool of 236 players, and executives hope this deep, high-profile class will help convert Olympic attention into sustained fan growth and higher revenue for players.