DETROIT — On Wednesday, June 17, Jayna Hefford strode to the podium at the center of the Fox Theatre’s stage and said 21 words that will last forever in Bay Area sports lore.
“With the fourth overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, PWHL San Jose selects: From the University of Wisconsin, Laila Edwards.”
PWHL San Jose general manager Troy Ryan’s selection of Edwards not only represents a milestone for women’s sports in the Bay Area, but also helps solve a major mystery surrounding San Jose’s roster previously left unanswered by the expansion process: Who will the team rely on to score goals?
While the answer to that question starts with Edwards, it will also include four of the five other San Jose selections. Throughout the night, Ryan continued his trend of collecting two-way, defensive-minded players — selecting Edwards and four forwards: Sloane Matthews, Lily Shannon, Mckenna Van Gelder and Reichen Kirchmair. Ryan also locked in San Jose’s backup goaltender when he picked Tia Chan in the third round.
Here’s a closer look at San Jose’s first draft class:
Round 1 (Pick 4): Laila Edwards (D), Wisconsin | Cleveland Heights, Ohio
About Edwards: Edwards is not only a three-time national champion at Wisconsin, but last winter she also blossomed into a global star at the Olympics. Playing defense for the U.S. in Milan, the 22-year-old tallied eight points in seven games. Her numbers with Wisconsin were dominant: Over the course of her four seasons as a Badger, Edwards averaged 1.3 points per game thanks to 81 goals and 118 assists. In the 2024-25 season — when she played solely as a forward — Edwards led the nation in goals, finished third in points per game and was a Patty Kazmaier Award top-three finalist.
Edwards became the first Black woman to play for the U.S hockey team at the Olympics in February, and now becomes the highest-picked Black woman in a PWHL Draft.
How she fits PWHL San Jose: Because of her ability to play both forward and defense, Edwards could fit San Jose’s roster in a number of ways. She could slot in as a top-pairing defender alongside Rory Guilday, instantly creating a powerful young duo. Edwards’ offensive abilities also pair especially well with Guilday — a defensive defender with a booming slap shot. If Ryan wants to use Edwards as a forward, she will immediately become the main player San Jose relies on for its offense (that might be the case even if she ends up as a defender).
Notable quotable: On being San Jose’s first pick and continuing to be a trailblazer in the sport: “It’s an incredible honor. I’m glad you brought it up, because I think just to continue to make history, and you know, I hope it’s myself and many others. Representation matters. So to be that representation, make that history, it’s an honor and it’s what motivates me most.”
Round 2 (Pick 16): Sloane Matthews (F), Ohio State | Plymouth, Minn.
About Matthews: A two-way forward, Matthews finished her Ohio State career with 104 points and skated in every game. Wearing the “A” in her senior season, Matthews posted career highs in goals (20) and assists (44). She also is an elite face-off taker; Matthews finished the 2025-26 season with a 193-132 record from the dot.
How she fits PWHL San Jose: The biggest question mark entering the night for San Jose was who would be the team’s opening-night starting center. Matthews likely answers that question. She allows Ryan to slot Kristin O’Neill on San Jose’s second line, which is a better fit. And as a two-way forward who prioritizes defense alongside scoring — but also has offensive upside — Matthews is exactly the type of player you would expect to see drafted by Ryan.
Notable quotable: On what San Jose fans should know about her game: “I bring a lot of speed, energy [and] physicality. I cannot wait for the physicality of the PWHL and to showcase how I can get my skills there.”
Round 3 (Pick 28): Tia Chan (G), Connecticut | Hamilton, Ontario
About Chan: The 2026 College Hockey Goaltender of the Year, Chan played in 99 games across five seasons for Connecticut. She finished her collegiate career with a .945 save percentage and a 1.51 goals against average, the latter of which ranks second all-time for a Husky.
Here’s what The Ice Garden’s Emma Sullivan wrote about Chan in a pre-draft goaltending review: “While Chan isn’t the tallest netminder on this list — she comes in at 5-foot-6 — her awareness of the puck and ability to move around the crease helps her stand out. She has been a walking highlight reel, thanks in large part to her aforementioned speed and the particular skill she wields her glove with.”
How she fits PWHL San Jose: With netminder Corinne Schroeder already rostered, it’s a little surprising to see Ryan grab a backup goaltender so early in the draft (Chan was the second goaltender selected). Still, if the first three seasons have taught us anything, it’s that lights-out goaltending is the key to making playoff runs. The selection of Chan ensures that — barring injury — Ryan won’t need to worry about his team’s goaltending.
Notable quotable: On her goaltending style: “[San Jose is going to get] an athletic, competitive goaltender and someone who loves to win.”
Round 4 (Pick 40): Lily Shannon (F), Northeastern | Andover, Mass.
About Shannon: Shannon is one of the best stories of the draft. Born with hearing loss, she improved in each of her four seasons at Northeastern. By her senior year, Shannon had fully morphed into a goal-scoring machine, reaching 20 goals for the first time in her collegiate career and joining Chan on the 2025-26 All-Hockey East First Team.
A physical skater and puck mover, Shannon uses her 5-foot-10 frame to get to the net and cause chaos on offense. She served on both the penalty-kill and power-play units for the Huskies.
How she fits PWHL San Jose: Shannon will likely slot in as either a third-line center or a second-line winger. She played center for the Huskies, but the jump from Hockey East to the PWHL is bigger than the jump from the WCHA.
Notable quotable: On what her day has been like: “It’s such a long day all the way until 5 o’clock, but I remember sitting there and I had to pee so bad, but I couldn’t get up and go pee. But I am so excited to be selected by San Jose. Not only is it a beautiful city, but I know they’re excited to have [women’s] hockey there.”
Round 5 (Pick 52) Mckenna Van Gelder (F), Cornell | Etobicoke, Ontario
About Van Gelder: The first number that jumps out when you look at Van Gelder’s stats is her face-off record. In her senior season, Van Gelder went 479-306 from the dot, finishing the year with the sixth-most wins in the nation. Her other stats — she posted 23 points three out of her four seasons in Ithaca, N.Y. — are somewhat lackluster, but also misleading. Van Gelder’s strength is… you guessed it, a consistent 200-foot game. Doug Derraugh’s forwards are all taught to prioritize defense, so Van Gelder will fit in well with the rest of San Jose’s roster.
How she fits PWHL San Jose: Van Gelder will likely start as the team’s fourth-line center, but if she can pick up her goal scoring, she could battle Shannon for the third-line slot. When you think of a “Troy Ryan player,” she’s who comes to mind.
Notable quotable: On San Jose getting a team: “San Jose is a great city and I think it’s gonna really draw in a lot of women’s sports fans. It was just a great place for an expansion team.”
Round 6 (Pick 64): Reichen Kirchmair (F), Providence College | Oakville, Ontario
About Kirchmair: After leading Hockey East in points her junior season and earning conference Player of the Year honors, Kirchmair’s numbers took a hit as Providence struggled her senior year. At 5-foot-8, Kirchmair has solid height and scored five power-play goals this season — over a third of Providence’s season total.
How she fits PWHL San Jose: Kirchmair will provide forward depth for San Jose, but she probably has the toughest battle out of any San Jose draft pick to make an opening-night roster. If she does make the roster, expect her to be on the fourth line.
Notable quotable: “I’m a bigger forward who’s got a pretty heavy shot, but I’m hoping to use that however I can with San Jose. Whatever role they see me fit, I’m going to put my 110 [percent] best into it.”
