A New Era for Women’s Pro Hockey
The first-ever draft of the Professional Women’s Hockey League unfolded at Detroit’s historic Fox Theater, where PWHL Detroit announced the addition of six players who will form the core of its debut roster. The event, attended by league officials, media and fans, marked a watershed moment for a league determined to cement a sustainable professional structure for women’s hockey.
At the heart of the announcements was Swiss goaltender Andrea Brandl, the league’s first overall selection, chosen by general manager Manon Rheaume. Brandl, who backstopped Switzerland to a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, expressed disbelief and excitement after hearing her name called. ‘It’s a dream I never thought I’d see,’ she said, reflecting on a career that has taken her from North American college rinks to European powerhouses.
Brandl’s path to Detroit is anything but conventional. After starring for Ohio State and later Boston College, she honed her skills abroad, spending the most recent season with Frolunda HC in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League. Her international résumé also includes a bronze‑medal performance with Switzerland at the 2026 Olympics, underscoring her status as one of the game’s most accomplished netminders.
The remaining picks round out a talented and geographically diverse group. Defenseman Casey Borgiel, a native of Port Huron, Michigan, brings a collegiate background from Holy Cross and Colgate. Forward MK O’Brien, who completed five seasons at Minnesota‑Duluth, contributed three goals in 38 games. Sena Catterall, a Clarkson alumna who posted 17 goals in 33 games last season, also skates for Canada’s national women’s baseball team. Avery Mitchell, who recorded three assists in 33 appearances for Penn State after stints at Clarkson, adds depth, while forward Georgia Schiff, a Cornell graduate with 12 goals in her final season, completes the class.
Collegiate Roots and International Paths
Each of the drafted players shares a common thread: formative years spent in NCAA programs that have become incubators for international stars. Institutions such as Ohio State, Boston College, Clarkson, Minnesota‑Duluth, Holy Cross, Colgate, Penn State and Cornell have not only refined their athletic abilities but also offered academic and personal development that prepares them for life on and off the ice.