2026 PWHL Draft Rankings: January Top 15 NCAA Prospects
As we shake off the holiday cheer, the top teams in the NCAA are gearing up for the home stretch of the regular season, with the hopes of playing in the Frozen Four in two months’ time.
While team success is a focal point for many players, there are a few who are well on their way to playing at the next level and are expected to join the PWHL ranks next fall. While there’s still a lot of time left before the 2026 PWHL Draft, that first round is going to be covered in red and white, as this year’s draft is being dubbed “The Wisconsin Draft.” You’ll see why in a minute…
Let’s take a look at the top 15 prospects who continue to dominate the collegiate level, and are well on their way to playing professional hockey:
1. Caroline Harvey, D (Wisconsin)
It’s beginning to look like the first-overall pick is going to be a defender for the first time. While I might’ve had her sitting second in the preseason rankings, the more I watch KK play, the more I think that no one will be able to stop her, regardless of what level she’s playing at. She’s near the top of the NCAA in scoring, with 41 points in 20 games, and is the odds-on favorite to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, and was dominant in the U.S. hammering Canada in the Rivalry Series earlier this season.
2. Kirsten Simms, F (Wisconsin)
I know people say that size is becoming important in the PWHL, but speed kills, and Simms has a ton of it. The Plymouth, Mich. native might’ve missed a couple of games of her college season due to injury, and maybe wasn’t as big a factor in the Rivalry Series, but there’s no question she’s one of the most talented players outside of the PWHL. She currently ranks second nationally in scoring, with 34 points in 18 contests, and is a driving force in the Badgers’ quest for another national championship.
3. Abbey Murphy, F (Minnesota)
Speaking of forces, Murphy has been on one heck of a heater this season. After electing to stay in Minneapolis for another year, I wondered if she had made the right decision, as she isn’t the favorite to be taken first overall. However, she’s bolstered her stock by continuing to show her goal-scoring prowess. Through 29 games, she has 24 goals and 43 points, both the most in the country. Her tenacity makes her an unstoppable force at the collegiate level, and she has shown the high-end player she can be with Team USA.
4. Laila Edwards, D (Wisconsin)
I was a little put off by both USA Hockey and the Badgers for moving Edwards back to defense. However, as we saw a little bit last spring at the IIHF Women’s World Championship and for the first few months of this season, the move has worked very well. She still has a booming shot that she has utilized from the point, and her size makes an impenetrable figure on the back end. Playing with Megan Keller at the Rivalry Series opened everyone’s eyes to the fact that the Cleveland Heights, Ohio native is one of the more versatile players in the game.
5. Tessa Janecke, F (Penn State)
Consistent and efficient. That’s the best way I can describe Tessa Janecke. The hero from last year’s Women’s Worlds is having another solid season with the Nittany Lions, having been held off the scoresheet just twice so far. With the Olympic break forthcoming, it might be a little tough for the Illinois native to reach 50 points for the third straight season, but there’s no question that she is going to be a dynamic asset for whomever she plays for next season.
6. Lacey Eden, F (Wisconsin)
Often overlooked on the stacked Badgers team, Eden has shown she can be a solid scoring threat with whoever she plays with. Whether it be on the wing of Cassie Hall of freshman Adela Sapovalivova, Eden has been all over the place for Wisconsin thus far. She’s currently tied for second in the nation with 34 points in 20 games. The fifth-year star has arguably further proven she’s ready for the pro level this season, even though Eden might not be taken as high as she would’ve been had she entered the 2025 draft.
7. Thea Johansson, F (Minnesota Duluth)
On a Bulldog team often viewed as the team just outside the “Big Three” of the WCHA, Thea Johansson has been dynamite. While Duluth has young talent like Caitlin Kraemer and Eve Gascon, Johansson’s play has made her a force for the team. The Mercyhurst transfer is growing into a solid player during her international duties with Sweden, giving her an elevated level of experience compared to some of her peers. Her shot and speed give her a significant advantage as well.
8. Josefin Bouveng, F (Minnesota)
Another Swedish National Team member, Bouveng has been a great complementary piece to Murphy this season. While she might not match her exceptional sophomore season, where she potted 50 points, the 24-year-old has been consistent from the onset this season. In 20 games, she has 29 points, placing her tied for eighth in the nation in scoring. It will be interesting to see whether Bouveng can up her draft stock at the Olympics next month. Bouveng has grown into a solid offensive weapon for Tre Kronor over the past couple of years, and hopes to give Sweden a shot at a medal in Milan.
9. Emma Peschel, D (Ohio State)
While Peschel doesn’t have the same offensive prowess that Harvey or Edwards has, there’s no question that she is one of the most reliable blueliners in college hockey. The senior is consistently out there against the other team’s top scorers, which, when facing Wisconsin and Minnesota four times during the year, is no easy task. With the PWHL proving to be a league that emphasizes offense, any team would love to have the size and strength of the Edina native on the back end.
10. Nelli Laitinen, D (Minnesota)
Speaking of players in Minnesota, Laitinen is well on her way to her best season with the Golden Gophers. The Finnish nationalist has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. What makes Laitinen’s game great is that, contrary to Peschel, Laitinen is more than capable of creating scoring chances, even though her name might not be on the scoresheet as much compared to her compadres. Like others on this list, her tenure on the international stage makes her an even more notable prospect. On a Finnish team that’s always in the bronze-medal conversation at major tournaments, Laitinen will have a big role if Suomi wants to take home hardware from Italy.
11. Katelyn Roberts, F (Penn State)
While Janecke is the marquee player in Hockey Valley, Katelyn Roberts has quietly been one of the Nittany Lions’ better players over the past couple of seasons. After a respectable 25 points last season, the 21-year-old is tied with Janecke for the team lead in goals, having potted 11 goals in 21 games. Her ability to find open space has made her a substantial threat for Penn State’s attack, as the team continues to be the class in Atlantic Hockey America.
12. Emma-Sofie Nordström, G (St. Lawrence)
Arguably the best senior goaltender in college hockey, Nordström has been a guiding presence in Canton, N.Y. Along with junior Kassidy Lawrence, the tandem has given the Saints a chance to win in a very tight ECAC conference. Even though she has just a 4-5-0 record, Nordström has a 2.22 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage that places her eighth in the conference. She might not be No. 1 material right away, the Danish netminder could be a viable backup for any PWHL team next year.
13. Elyssa Biederman, F (Colgate)
I’ve been pretty high on Biederman since the beginning of the season. She entered the 2025-26 campaign fresh off back-to-back 50-point seasons and was expected to be at the forefront of the Raiders’ attack with the likes of Danielle Serdachny and Kristýna Kaltounková having moved on to the PWHL. While Emma Pais has also been great for Colgate this year, Biederman has also been solid. The Franklin, Mich. native has shown off her playmaking abilities this season, posting 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 21 games thus far.
14. Vivian Jungels, D (Wisconsin)
It just seems like whenever Jungels is on the ice, the opposition has no chance of scoring. Sure, she’s played a little bit with Harvey and has Ava McNaughton behind her, but Jungels’ role with the Badgers has been that of shutting down the other team’s top stars. While she isn’t the most offensively gifted, the Edina native brings a certain level of confidence in her defensive play, as well as an awareness that’s up there with the best in the WCHA.
15. Katie DeSa, G (Penn State)
Many look at DeSa as someone who has only played well because of the team she’s on and the weak conference that she’s in. Yet the Connecticut native has been solid throughout the season and has had to make big saves every now and then. Her 29-save performance against nationally-ranked Northeastern in late November proved that DeSa can be a big-game goaltender. She leads the NCAA with seven shutouts and is second in the nation with a 1.35 GAA. DeSa’s 16 wins are also second to McNaughton’s 17.
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention: Sena Catterall (F, Clarkson), Joy Dunne (F, Ohio State), Rhea Hicks (F, Clarkson), Issy Wunder (F, Princeton)