Detroit to host 2026 PWHL Draft

One of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s newest markets has been granted one of its marquee events.

On Wednesday, Ilitch Spors & Entertainment CEO Christopher Ilitch revealed that the city of Detroit will host the 2026 PWHL Draft. It follows the announcement that Hockeytown will become the league’s ninth franchise, as the PWHL continues its rapid expansion heading into its fourth season.

The draft is set to take place at the famous Fox Theatre on June 17.

The team that is set to pick No. 1 is the Vancouver Goldeneyes. One of the PWHL’s two new franchises beat out the Seattle Torrent for the most draft-order points. The rest of the order and format have yet to be announced.

The 2026 draft is not only shaping up to be the largest in terms of teams, with the league reportedly expanding to 12 teams for the 2026-27 season, but also one of the deepest in the league’s history. There are at least 10 players who are more than capable of being impact players on whatever roster they end up on next season.

It all starts with Caroline Harvey. The all-world defender just finished up her career at the University of Wisconsin by winning a third NCAA Championship and the Patty Kazmaier Award for the best player in women’s college hockey. She was also named the most valuable player in the women’s tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics, helping the United States win gold.

She wasn’t the only player who made a difference in Milan that’s in this year’s draft class. Badger teammate Laila Edwards is a force that’s going to be tough to stop at the next level. The ferocious Abbey Murphy from the University of Minnesota has been one of the top goal scorers in college hockey for the past few years and is going to be one of the PWHL’s most feared newcomers next year.