PWHL Detroit has announced that goaltender Andrea Brändli has been signed to a three-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement through the 2028-29 season, and defender Casey Borgiel has been signed to a one-year agreement for the team’s inaugural 2026-27 campaign. Both players made history in the second-round of the 2026 PWHL Draft on June 17 at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, with Brändli (15th overall) representing the team’s first-ever pick and the first goaltender selected in the draft, while Borgiel (22nd overall) of nearby Port Huron was the team’s first-ever pick from Michigan.

“We could not have asked for a better start to the draft by selecting an experienced goaltender like Andrea and a reliable defender like Casey in front of our hometown fans,” said PWHL Detroit General Manager Manon Rheaume. “Andrea’s performance at the Olympics showed the world that she is one of the best at her position and somebody who will make an immediate impact in the PWHL with her maturity and confidence. I’ve had the privilege of watching Casey’s career develop through the Little Caesars program as a player who stands out for her consistency, physicality, and stability on the blue line. Both players are important to the foundation we are building for our inaugural season.”

Brändli is a three-time Olympian who backstopped Switzerland to a bronze medal victory in February, named Best Goaltender and a Tournament All-Star with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage. Swiss Hockey’s Woman of the Year in 2023, her international experience also includes eight appearances in the top division of the IIHF Women’s World Championship. The 29-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with Frölunda HC of the SDHL where she posted a league-leading .945 SV% and a 1.49 GAA that ranked second. She also played two seasons with MoDo Hockey, earning SDHL Goaltender of the Year honors in 2025. Brändli won a National Championship with Ohio State in 2022 and capped her five-year NCAA career at Boston University in 2022-23.

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to commit to Detroit for the next three years and call this vibrant city home,” said Brändli. “Experiencing the draft at the Fox Theatre and the amazing atmosphere throughout the city gave me a sense of how special Detroit’s sports culture and community are. The passion and support from the fans is something I’ll never forget. This organization is already something special, and I feel very fortunate to be part of this team and build something amazing together and can’t wait for opening night at Little Caesars Arena.”

Borgiel joins her hometown team following two seasons as the top scoring defender at Colgate University, most recently tallying four goals and 21 points in 36 games during the 2025-26 campaign. Her first season as a Raider in 2024-25 was the most productive offensive season of her collegiate career, contributing 29 points (3G, 26A) in 39 games on the heels of two seasons at College of the Holy Cross where she earned Hockey East All-Rookie honors in 2023. Last August, Borgiel represented the U.S. in the 2025 Collegiate Series against Canada, coached by PWHL Detroit assistant coach Molly Engstrom. The 22-year-old is a product of Detroit’s Little Caesars program, winning back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, and lettered in soccer at Port Huron Northern High School.

“It’s a dream come true to come home and play in the same arena that helped me fall in love with hockey and find my passion for the game,” said Borgiel. “Hockeytown has shown it’s ready for the PWHL and I am super excited to get started in Detroit, to meet all of the fans, and honored to help make this inaugural season special.”

Brändli and Borgiel are the first of the team’s six-player inaugural draft class to sign and brings PWHL Detroit’s roster up to 18 players under contract, now with two goaltenders and seven defenders. Brändli is one of nine on the team who competed in Milano Cortina counting Americans Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Britta Curl-Salemme and Hilary Knight, Canada’s Daryl Watts, France’s Alice Philbert, Germany’s Nina Jobst-Smith, and Japan’s Akane Shiga. Borgiel is one of four Michigan-area players on the roster joining Mellissa Channell-Watkins (Plymouth), her former Little Caesars coach, and forwards Shiann Darkangelo (Brighton) and Taylor Girard (Macomb).

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The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) welcomed 72 new players Wednesday during the 2026 PWHL Draft. The fourth annual draft took place at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI, with prospects, special guests, and fans in attendance.

​Caroline “KK” Harvey was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who had earned the top pick based on finishing in first place in the ‘Gold Plan’ standings. The 23-year-old defender from Salem, NH, finished her NCAA career as the 2025-26 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient and a three-time National Champion with the University of Wisconsin Badgers. She also won Olympic gold with Team USA, contributing a tournament-high-tying nine points (2G, 7A), and was named Tournament MVP, and earlier in the day was named the 2026 IIHF Female Player of the Year.

DRAFT NOTES:

• Harvey was the first defender to be selected first overall in a PWHL Entry Draft.
• Abbey Murphy (University of Minnesota) was the first forward to be selected, going second overall to the Seattle Torrent.
• PWHL Las Vegas was the only team with two first-round picks, selecting forward Tessa Janecke (Penn State) third overall (via PWHL Detroit), and forward Lacey Eden (University of Wisconsin) fifth overall, and led the draft with eight picks in total.
• PWHL San Jose used its first-ever pick to select forward Laila Edwards (University of Wisconsin) fourth overall.
• PWHL Hamilton selected defender Nelli Laitinen (University of Minnesota) with its first-ever pick, making the Finnish rearguard the first international player chosen at sixth overall.
• PWHL Detroit used its first-ever pick to select Switzerland’s Andrea Brändli (Frölunda HC), making her the first goaltender chosen at 15th overall.
• Three Michiganders were selected in front of the hometown crowd, including forward Kirsten Simms (Plymouth) at eighth overall to the Toronto Sceptres, defender Casey Borgiel (Port Huron) at 22nd overall to Detroit, and forward Elyssa Biederman (Franklin) at 30th overall to Hamilton.
• The first Canadian selected in the draft was defender Sara Swiderski (Ohio State University) of Langley, BC, going ninth overall to the Minnesota Frost.
• The 72 players selected in the six-round process include 42 forwards, 22 defenders, and eight goaltenders.
• Per hometowns, the draft class is represented across eight different countries: United States (31), Canada (30), Finland (4), Switzerland (2), Sweden (2), Czechia (1), Denmark (1), and Russia (1).
• 14 players competed in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, representing five countries: Americans Edwards, Harvey, Janecke, Murphy, and Simms; Finland’s Laitinen, Elisa Holopainen, Petra Nieminen, and Viivi Vainikka; Sweden’s Josefin Bouveng and Thea Johansson; Switzerland’s Brändli and Saskia Maurer; Italy’s Gabriella Durante.
• A total of 59 players were selected from NCAA programs, 11 from professional teams, and two from U SPORTS.
• The 59 NCAA players represent 19 programs: Penn State (7), Cornell (5), Ohio State (5), Minnesota (5), Wisconsin (5), Northeastern (4), Minnesota-Duluth (4), Yale (4), Colgate (3), Princeton (3), University of Connecticut (3), Boston University (2), Clarkson (2), Quinnipiac (2), Brown (1), Minnesota State (1), Providence College (1), St. Cloud State (1), and St. Lawrence University (1).
• The 10 professional players represent three leagues: SDHL (8), SWHL (1), and ZhHL (1).
• The two U SPORTS players represent Concordia University and the University of British Columbia.
• A total of 235 eligible players declared for the draft, representing the largest talent pool of prospective players since the inaugural season.

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The 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck takes place at Detroit’s Fox Theatre on Wednesday, June 17 beginning at 5 p.m. ET
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Live broadcast available on Scripps Sports platforms (U.S.), TSN2 (Canada), and streaming on the league’s YouTube channel (worldwide)

Ahead of the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft presented by Upper Deck, taking place at Detroit’s historic Fox Theatre on June 17 (5 p.m. ET), the league announced the Draft Order of Selection.

​The Draft Order of Selection is led by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who earned the first overall pick after finishing first in the PWHL’s ‘Gold Plan’ standings during the regular season, followed by the Seattle Torrent, who finished in last place in the regular-season standings. The league’s four expansion teams occupy the next four selections, followed by an inverse order of the non-playoff teams based on their final regular-season standings, and the playoff results for the four teams who qualify (inverse order), as previously announced. The order will remain the same in all six rounds, with a total of 72 players selected.

​2026 PWHL Draft Order​

1. Vancouver Goldeneyes
2. Seattle Torrent
3. PWHL Detroit
4. PWHL San Jose
5. PWHL Las Vegas
6. PWHL Hamilton
7. New York Sirens
8. Toronto Sceptres
9. Minnesota Frost
10. Boston Fleet
11. Ottawa Charge
12. Montréal Victoire

​Fans in the Detroit area can be part of the action as Draft selections are made live at the Fox Theatre starting at 5 p.m. ET, with limited tickets remaining here. Prior to the Draft, fans can enjoy festivities at the PWHL Draft Fan Zone on Columbia Street from 2–5 p.m. ET.

​The first two rounds of the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck will be available in the U.S. on Scripps Sports platforms, including over-the-air television in select markets, nationally on Scripps FAST channel, Scripps Sports Network, and in Canada, on TSN2. Complete coverage of all rounds will also be available on TSN+ in Canada, in addition to the PWHL YouTube Channel, worldwide (with no blackouts). Visit thepwhl.com for full broadcast details.

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Watts becomes First Player in PWHL History to Sign Four-Year Contract

PWHL Detroit made history with the announcement of forward Daryl Watts as the team’s first-ever player following an Expansion Foundational Offer (EFO) ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Watts joins PWHL Detroit as a cornerstone player signed to a four-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement through the 2029-30 campaign and becomes the first of five players to be added to the team’s roster during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.

Watts joins PWHL Detroit as one of the most prolific offensive players in PWHL history. The 27-year-old ranks second all-time in goals (32) and is tied for third in points (63) after spending two seasons with the Toronto Sceptres (2024-26) and one season with Ottawa (2024). This past season, Watts led Toronto with 19 points (10G, 9A) and became the first player in the PWHL to score 10 or more goals in three straight seasons, leading her team in the category a third consecutive season. The Toronto, ON, native also became the second player in league history to reach 50 career points, achieving the milestone with a goal against the Minnesota Frost on Dec. 30, 2025. Watts made her Olympic Winter Games debut this year at Milano Cortina, earning a silver medal while leading Canada in points (2G, 6A). She also earned silver in her Canadian Women’s National Team debut at the 2025 Women’s Worlds. The 2018 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, and the first freshman to ever earn the honor, played collegiately for Boston College and the University of Wisconsin. She earned WCHA Forward of the Year, WCHA Player of the Year and USCHO Player of the Year honors in 2020-21 — the same season she scored the overtime-winning goal that lifted the Badgers to the NCAA National Championship.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS CAYLA BARNES AND HANNAH BILKA

Defender Cayla Barnes and forward Hannah Bilka have each signed a Standard Player Agreements ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Barnes has signed a three-year contract through 2028-29 and Bilka has inked a two-year contract through the 2027-28 campaign. The additions of Barnes and Bilka, who were both under contract with the Seattle Torrent, follow the earlier Phase 2 signing of forward Daryl Watts to an Expansion Foundational Offer.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS BRITTA CURL-SALEMME TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT 

Forward Britta Curl-Salemme has signed a three-year Professional Women’s Hockey League Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Curl-Salemme, who was under contract with the Minnesota Frost, joins PWHL Detroit with a new deal through the 2028-29 campaign and becomes the fourth of five players to be added to the team during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS JESSE COMPHER TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT

Forward Jesse Compher has signed a three-year Professional Women’s Hockey League Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Compher, who was under contract with the Toronto Sceptres for the 2026-27 season, joins PWHL Detroit on a new deal through the 2028-29 campaign and rounds out the five players to be added to the team during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process. 

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS SYDNEY BARD TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT

Defender Sydney Bard has been signed to a two-year Professional Women’s Hockey League Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Bard joins PWHL Detroit with a contract through the 2027-28 campaign and becomes the team’s sixth player and first to be added during Phase 3 of the PWHL’s Expansion Player Distribution Process.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS MICHIGAN NATIVE TAYLOR GIRARD

Taylor Girard of Macomb, MI, has been signed to a two-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Girard joins PWHL Detroit with a contract through the 2027-28 campaign and becomes the team’s seventh player and second, following defender Sydney Bard, to be added during Phase 3 of the PWHL’s Expansion Player Distribution Process.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS MICHIGAN NATIVE SHIANN DARKANGELO

Forward Shiann Darkangelo of Brighton, MI, has signed a two-year Professional Women’s Hockey League Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Darkangelo joins PWHL Detroit with a contract through the 2027-28 campaign and becomes the team’s eighth player and first of three to be added during Phase 4 of the PWHL’s Expansion Player Distribution Process.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS NINA JOBST-SMITH TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

Defender Nina Jobst-Smith signed a one-year Professional Women’s Hockey League Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Jobst-Smith, who was under contract with the Vancouver Goldeneyes for the 2026-27 campaign, has a new deal to join PWHL Detroit where she becomes the team’s ninth player and second of three to be added during Phase 4 of the PWHL’s Expansion Player Distribution Process.

PWHL DETROIT SIGNS ELLA HUBER TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

Forward Ella Huber has also signed a one-year Professional Women’s Hockey League Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 season. Huber, who was under contract with the Boston Fleet, has signed a new agreement through the upcoming campaign and becomes the team’s 10th player and third of three players to be added to complete Phase 4 of the PWHL’s Expansion Player Distribution Process.

PWHL DETROIT ACQUIRES HILARY KNIGHT

PWHL Detroit has acquiried forward Hilary Knight in a trade with PWHL Las Vegas in exchange for the team’s first round pick, third overall, in the 2026 PWHL Draft. A roster freeze, which was implemented as part of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Expansion Player Distribution Process, lifted June 16 at 9 a.m. ET.

PWHL DETROIT COMPLETES TRADE WITH BOSTON FLEET

Detroit has completed a trade with the Boston Fleet to acquire Boston’s second-round pick (22nd overall) and third-round pick (34th overall) in the 2026 PWHL Draft in exchange for forward Ella Huber and Detroit’s third-round pick (27th overall) in 2026. The PWHL roster freeze, which was implemented as part of the league’s Expansion Player Distribution Process.

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PWHL Detroit has announced that Josh Sciba has been named the team’s first Head Coach ahead of its inaugural 2026-27 season in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Sciba is a native of Westland, MI, and joins his hometown team after serving two seasons as an assistant coach for the PWHL’s New York Sirens and brings more than 15 years of coaching experience to the role.

“Josh is a highly respected coach with a knowledge of the game and experience at all levels of women’s hockey that set him apart, and his passion for teaching and individual character are qualities I value in a leader,” said Manon Rhéaume, PWHL Detroit General Manager. “Hockeytown is in his blood, and this is an opportunity I know he is eager to embrace with an understanding of what it means to represent this city and be part of its legacy.”

Beyond the PWHL, Sciba served as an assistant coach for the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team that won gold in Milan this past February. He has held the same role with the U.S. Women’s National Team since 2022, helping guide the program to two IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals in 2023 and 2025, as well as silver medals in 2022 and 2024.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the Head Coach of PWHL Detroit and beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead the organization from the beginning. This is home and especially meaningful for me and my entire family, knowing Detroit’s rich hockey history and identity firsthand and how much the women’s hockey community has been yearning for this moment. Working alongside Manon, someone who has meant so much to the growth of the sport, is a journey I’m so fortunate to be on, with her passion, leadership, and vision that will make Detroit a destination for players. I also want to sincerely thank the New York Sirens, Pascal Daoust, Greg Fargo, and the players for believing in me and allowing me an opportunity to teach and grow as a coach. I’ll always be grateful to the people I had a chance to collaborate with and appreciative of the relationships and experiences in my first two PWHL seasons. I look forward to this next chapter and to building something special in Detroit.” – Josh Sciba

Prior to joining the PWHL, Sciba served as head coach of Union College’s women’s hockey program from 2016-24 after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at Colgate University from 2012-16. He previously spent four years on the coaching staff at Niagara University, including three seasons as an assistant coach and one season as head coach. With USA Hockey, the 41-year-old also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team that won gold in the 2020 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship and silver in the 2019 tournament.

A 2007 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Sciba played four seasons with the Fighting Irish men’s hockey program from 2003-07.

PWHL Detroit was officially announced as one of the league’s four new expansion teams on May 6 and will debut at Little Caesars Arena in the fall. Fans can place a time-stamped deposit here to secure priority access to season tickets for Detroit’s historic inaugural season, once ticket packages are released.

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