Defenseman Caroline Harvey taken No. 1 overall in 2026 PWHL draft by Vancouver
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Caroline Harvey is adding yet another accomplishment to her resume.
Just hours after becoming the first defender to be named the International Ice Hockey Federation's Player of Year, Harvey was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft by the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Wednesday at Detroit's Fox Theatre. She's the first defender to be selected first overall in the PWHL draft.
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"It's been a special year," said Harvey, who donned a white blazer. "Just all the experiences with the U.S. team and Wisconsin. Just so grateful for all my coaches, teammates, and family. It really takes a village and just feeling really blessed right now."
That “just got drafted” moment ✨ pic.twitter.com/yVrxtD8R0I
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) June 17, 2026
Jayna Hefford, the PWHL's executive vice president of hockey operations, announced the pick as Goldeneyes general manager Cara Gardner Morey and Billie Jean King looked on from the stage.
"To our prospects, this is a night you have earned through years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication," Hefford said. "We are thrilled to share this moment with you, your families and hockey fans around the world."
The accomplishment adds to Harvey's historic year. She won a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics with Team USA in February and was named tournament MVP after tallying nine points on two goals and seven assists in the Americans' run to its first gold medal since 2018.
Harvey followed up her golden performance with at Wisconsin, where she had a career-high 64 points (18 goals, 46 assists) her senior season, setting a single-season points record for a Badgers defender. She helped Wisconsin win the NCAA national championship, the third of her career and ninth in program history.
She was named the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women’s college hockey. Harvey credited her teammates during her acceptance speech.
"Being able to compete against one another every day in practice, pushing each other to our absolute limits always has been a blessing," Harvey said. "I'm forever grateful for the amazing friendships you have all provided along the way. This award is a reflection of our team success as nothing is ever an individual award."
Harvey joins a Vancouver team that finished sixth in the regular season standings with 37 points in its inaugural season. The Goldeneyes were awarded the top pick in the Caroline Harvey sweepstakes after finishing first in the league's "Gold Plan" standings, an anti-tanking initiative that awards the first pick to the team that tallies the most points after being eliminated from playoff contention.
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at [email protected] and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caroline Harvey taken No. 1 overall in 2026 PWHL draft by Vancouver