Goldeneyes draft Harvey first in PWHL entry draft
Key takeaways
- Caroline Harvey -- the standout NCAA defenseman and 2026 Olympic gold medalist -- was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the Professional Women's Hockey League entry draft Wednesday.
- Harvey, 23, capped off a four-year collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers in March by being crowned the Patty Kazmaier Award winner as the NCAA's best woman hockey player.
- Harvey also guided the USA to a gold medal victory at February's Olympic Games in Milan, where she grabbed nine points (tied for the tournament high) and was named Best Defender and MVP of the women's hockey field.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Caroline Harvey -- the standout NCAA defenseman and 2026 Olympic gold medalist -- was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the Professional Women's Hockey League entry draft Wednesday.
Harvey, 23, capped off a four-year collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers in March by being crowned the Patty Kazmaier Award winner as the NCAA's best woman hockey player. It was the latest in a long list of accolades for Harvey amid her incredible senior year captaining Wisconsin to another national championship -- she paced all NCAA defenders with 18 goals and 64 points (setting a new record by a Badgers' blueliner) in 33 games and ranked second nationally in points per game (1.94) while collecting the most assists per game (1.39).
Harvey also guided the USA to a gold medal victory at February's Olympic Games in Milan, where she grabbed nine points (tied for the tournament high) and was named Best Defender and MVP of the women's hockey field. The International Ice Hockey Federation also selected Harvey on Wednesday as its Female Player of the Year.