Caroline Harvey Is A 'No-Brainer' And Seattle Fans Need To See Who Else Is Left For Our No. 2 Pick

Alright, 12s, listen up because this is HUGE! We're talking PWHL Draft, happening Wednesday in Detroit, and guess what? Our Seattle team holds the **second overall pick!** You heard that right, the Emerald City is about to make a splash in the league's fourth draft, and with a talent pool this deep, the excitement is off the charts. We're looking at a serious gold medal reunion, with five Team USA Olympians who crushed it at the Milan Cortina Games in February up for grabs. Toronto Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury, who used to rep Team Canada, is even talking about how "beyond excited" she is for these American players. Trust me, everybody should be.

Team USA Gold Medalists Are Filling The Draft Board

This isn't just any draft, folks. It's practically a family reunion for the U.S. squad that snagged gold by beating Canada earlier this year. We're talking about a 236-player class that's absolutely stacked with American talent, starting right at the top. Leading the charge is Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey, who was the Olympic tournament MVP, a "no-brainer" for the first pick according to U.S. coach John Wroblewski. And he's not wrong, the 23-year-old is already considered one of the game's elite with her fluid skating and play-making skills, even snagging college hockey MVP honors. But it doesn't stop with Harvey. We've got four other U.S. teammates who were part of that gold-medal squad: Wisconsin's Laila Edwards and Kirsten Simms, Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy, and Penn State forward Tessa Janecke. Wroblewski summed it up perfectly, saying it's "unprecedented" to see this many Olympians get drafted, calling the top spots home to "exceptional and generational talent." Think about it: Murphy brings grit and offense, while Edwards is a 6-foot-1 powerhouse who can play defense or forward, rocking a hard shot and smooth skating. Janecke is a well-rounded center, and Simms is a wing specialist, lethal on the power play half-wall. Add in non-U.S. Olympians like Wisconsin's Lacey Eden, Ohio State's Emma Peschel, and Minnesota's Sydney Morrow, and this first round is gonna be electrifying.

Why Seattle Gets The Number 2 Pick, And What It Means

So, how did our Seattle squad land such a prime spot? Simple: after being one of the first two teams eliminated from playoff contention in the 2025 expansion season, we earned that number two pick. Vancouver gets the first overall, then it's us! The league's expanded to a dozen teams this offseason, adding four new franchises, which is awesome for the sport, but also means a shake-up across the board. Every team out there has needs, and the PWHL planned for this deep draft class when they brought in the new squads. Speaking of new teams, Las Vegas is making moves, nabbing picks three and five after acquiring the third selection in a sign-and-trade deal that sent five-time U.S. Olympian Hilary Knight to Detroit. San Jose picks fourth and Hamilton sixth. For us, having the second pick means we get to choose from this insane talent pool immediately after the first pick is off the board. The PWHL Draft is happening Wednesday, and our Seattle team is on the clock with the second overall pick. This isn't just about adding a player; it's about setting the tone for our franchise, bringing that "generational talent" Wroblewski talked about right here to the Pacific Northwest. Get ready, Seattle, because our PWHL team is about to get a whole lot more interesting!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.