San Jose picks Laila Edwards No. 4 overall in PWHL amateur draft

PWHL San Jose may have a star after all.

With the fourth overall pick in the entry draft on Wednesday, the expansion club selected defender Laila Edwards, one of the most popular players in women’s hockey following her excellent career with Wisconsin and the U.S. national team’s Olympic gold medal run this winter.

“I’m so excited, I think it’s an incredible market,” Edwards said during the broadcast. “They already have some good players. I like the staff and I’m really excited.”

Edwards is a three-time NCAA champion from Cleveland Heights, Ohio who has become one of the most electric young players in the country. She posted 12 goals with 33 assists in 28 games for the national champion Wisconsin Badgers in her senior year.

She became the first-ever Black woman to represent the U.S. women’s national hockey team at the Olympics in Italy this winter. She also was the MVP of the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship at 20 years old, becoming the youngest player to ever earn that honor.

“It’s an incredible honor,” she said of the history she has continued to make. “To continue to make history, representation matters. To make that history is an honor and it’s what motivates me the most… The support from the crowd gives me chills, to feel I made an impact to the game. I’m really excited and still so nervous to be honest. The opportunity to use my platform to grow the game is so cool.”

She is a right-shot defender and had the hardest shot in the NCAA, adding some depth to a left-heavy blueline for San Jose. At 6-foot-1, she is also the tallest player in PWHL history.

Edwards has also played forward in the past, but has more experience as a defender, her position of choice. As a junior, Edwards led the nation with 35 goals, so she can bring a dynamic option to San Jose.

“I feel like I trust (head coach and general manager Troy Ryan) enough, we haven’t had the conversation yet,” Edwards said about which position she’ll play. “I feel like we both know each other so well, we’ve talked in the past, we’ve always had so much respect for each other. Game respects game. I’m excited to get to know him even better. I hope to make San Jose proud.”

Edwards said she has only been to San Jose once for the Rivalry Series – going against Ryan – but said she “fell in love” with the city and could see herself living there.

“It’s crazy the way the world works,” she said.

The 22-year-old is a fan favorite across hockey and got some of the loudest cheers in the area when her selection was announced. She and her Wisconsin teammate and Vancouver first overall pick Caroline Harvey went viral for their TikToks from the Olympics.

She is aware of that status, and it means a lot to her, she said.

“Hopefully I’ll have a fan in every building I play in,” Edwards said. “I want to represent San Jose in every game, but just as importantly, I want to represent the league well. It motivates me to be the best version of myself.”

With their No. 16 pick San Jose took Ohio State forward Sloane Matthews, who won two national championships with the Buckeyes, and scored 20 goals with 24 assists last season. San Jose then took UConn goaltender Tia Chan in the third round, just the second goalie to be selected in the evening.

The South Bay team added more firepower in the fourth round with Northeastern forward Lily Shanahan, chosen with the 40th pick. With the Huskies she scored 19 goals with 24 assists.

San Jose finished its draft by selecting Cornell forward McKenna Van Gelder in the fifth round and Providence forward Reichen Kirchmair in the sixth round. Van Gelder had 13 points and 10 assits last season while Kirchmair tallied 14 goals and 11 assists.

The draft order for the four expansion clubs was determined by a randomized draw. Vancouver selected U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner Harvey with the first overall pick, making her the first blueliner to be selected in that spot in PWHL history.

San Jose will be able to sign free agents with the rest of the league starting on June 19.

PWHL SAN JOSE DRAFT PICKS

1. (4th overall): Laila Edwards, defender, Wisconsin
2. (16th): Sloane Matthews, forward, Ohio State
3. (28th): Tia Chan, goalie, UConn
4. (40th): Lily Shannon, forward, Northeastern
5. (52nd): McKenna Van Gelder, forward, Cornell
6. (64th): Reichen Kirchmair, forward, Providence