240414 Laila Edwards of USA looks dejected after the 2024 IIHF Women s World Championship, WM, Weltmeisterschaft final between USA and Canada on April 14, 2024 in Utica. Photo: Aron Broman / BILDBYRAN / COP 341 / AM0053 ishockey Ice hockey, Eishockey vm dam 2024 iihf womens world championship dam vm ishockey vm final usa canada kanada women bbeng depp *** 240414 Laila Edwards of USA looks dejected after the 2024 IIHF Women s World Championship final between USA and Canada on April 14, 2024 in Utica Photo Aron Broman BILDBYRAN COP 341 AM0053 ishockey ice hockey vm dam 2024 iihf womens world championship dam vm ishockey vm final usa canada canada women bbeng depp PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxAUT Copyright: ARONxBROMAN BB240414AM163
240414 Laila Edwards of USA looks dejected after the 2024 IIHF Women s World Championship, WM, Weltmeisterschaft final between USA and Canada on April 14, 2024 in Utica. Photo: Aron Broman / BILDBYRAN / COP 341 / AM0053 ishockey Ice hockey, Eishockey vm dam 2024 iihf womens world championship dam vm ishockey vm final usa canada kanada women bbeng depp *** 240414 Laila Edwards of USA looks dejected after the 2024 IIHF Women s World Championship final between USA and Canada on April 14, 2024 in Utica Photo Aron Broman BILDBYRAN COP 341 AM0053 ishockey ice hockey vm dam 2024 iihf womens world championship dam vm ishockey vm final usa canada canada women bbeng depp PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxSWExNORxAUT Copyright: ARONxBROMAN BB240414AM163
Laila Edwards is set to head to San Jose. The Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated young players in women's hockey was selected fourth overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft on June 17.
She also became the first draft pick in PWHL San Jose's franchise history. It now gives the expansion team an elite prospect as they build the rest of their roster.
At the University of Wisconsin, Edwards scored 12 goals and 45 points across 28 games in her most recent season. She did so while contributing on both offense and defense.
In the 2024 World Championship, Edwards won the MVP honors as a forward. She scored six goals across seven games. Then at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, she scored 8 points in 6 games.
Playing as a blueliner for Team USA, she helped her team finish in third place in scoring. San Jose selected Edwards as their defender. At 6'1, Edwards will be the tallest player in PWHL history.
The Athletic had also discussed her position with San Jose in its most recent mock draft. They made a point that she would be a good fit alongside the shutdown defender Rory Guilday.
The GM and head coach, Troy Ryan, had not yet had a formal conversation with Edwards about a position she prefers, but Edwards was acknowledged immediately after her selection.
Laila Edwards wasn't the only one San Jose picked
San Jose is one of the PWHL's newest expansion teams. They have not yet announced a permanent team name, as they are still actively shaping themselves ahead of their inaugural season.
Apart from Edwards, the team added other players too. Sloane Matthews, a two-way center from Ohio State, who was selected 16th overall, and Tia Chan, the Hockey East Goaltender of the Year from UConn, were selected at 28th overall.
The front office has also made enough signings ahead of the draft. San Jose's approach to building itself so far has been to identify its core players first and then build outward.
However, the team also has bigger goals. San Jose ranks sixth in the nation for girls' hockey participation, and the team's forward, Maddi Wheeler, hopes their team can inspire the next generation.
"I think it's going to be great to kind of be leaders in that way and role models and contribute to the women's sports movement in the Bay Area," said the forward.
You can read more at NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi