The first draft pick in PWHL history back in 2023, Heise's career has been on an upward trajectory ever since. The two-time Walter Cup champion compiled a career-high 30 points this regular season.
2026 PWHL Awards
Winners will be announced at the PWHL Awards on Tuesday, June 16. Check out the awards criteria and list of nominees below.
FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the forward who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
Taylor Heise
Brianne Jenner
The Charge captain has been one of the top scorers in the PWHL in all three of the league's season, but she reached a new level this campaign with a career-high 12 goals, 14 assists and 26 points.
Kelly Pannek
A back-to-back Walter Cup Champion champion in Minnesota, the always solid Pannek had a breakout year with the Frost, finishing the regular season atop the league leaders in both goals and points (16G/33P).
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to the defender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
Sophie Jaques
Jaques, who won PWHL Walter Cups with the Minnesota Frost in 2024 and 2025, joined the Goldeneyes before this season and made a massive impact on her new team, playing all 30 games and leading Vancouver in points with 20.
Megan Keller
Keller scored the biggest goal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning the U.S. gold in a 2-1 thriller over rival Canada, and was just as important with the Fleet, notching a career- and PWHL defender-high 22 points this season.
Haley Winn
The 2025 first-round draft pick out of Clarkson won a gold medal with Team USA in Milano Cortina, led the entire PWHL in time on ice/game amongst all skaters this season at 27:03 per outing, and finished second amongst rookies in points with 19.
GOALIE OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY ROGERS
Awarded to the goaltender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.
Ann-Renée Desbiens
The 2025 PWHL Goaltender of the Year, Desbiens had another vintage season for the Victoire, leading the league with a miniscule 1.11 GAA (including seven shutouts) over the regular season.
Aerin Frankel
Frankel reached a new level in this, her third season with the Fleet, notching a league-high eight shutouts and serving as the top netminder for the USA at the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Gwyneth Philips
After a standout rookie season, Philips was named the 2025 PWHL Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP despite her team losing in the finals. She closed out a great 2025-26 regular season with a shutout in the Charge's playoff-clinching finale.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Kori Cheverie
Cheverie is the first coach to be a finalist for the award in all three seasons and could become the first two-time recipient. She led Montréal to first place atop the PWHL standings with a record of 16-6-2-6 for 62 points, tied with Boston for a new single-season league record. The Victoire’s 22 wins marked a new league-high, along with 16 wins in regulation that also matched the Fleet. They led all teams with a .844 home record and were tied for second with a .533 record on the road.
Carla MacLeod
MacLeod is an award finalist for the second straight season after helping Ottawa earn a PWHL Playoffs berth in back-to-back seasons. The Charge posted a 9-8-1-12 record, matching their 44 points from last season, to secure fourth place in the final league standings. They earned 17 wins overall, marking the most in a single season in team history, including eight games with four or more goals. Ottawa won a PWHL-record eight games that went beyond regulation.
Kris Sparre
Sparre is a finalist in his first season as a PWHL head coach after guiding Boston to become the fastest team (24 games) to clinch a playoff berth in league history. The Fleet finished second in the league standings with a 16-5-4-5 record and all-time single-season-best of 62 points alongside Montréal, accrued by the same record of .689 at home (ranked second) and away (ranked first). The Fleet were the first PWHL team to reach 30 points at home and on the road in a single season.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY ALLY FINANCIAL
Awarded to the player who showcases the most outstanding ability throughout their first regular season of professional play. Players eligible must be competing in their first season of professional hockey in North America and begin the season in their 25th birth year or younger. For Season Three, 2000-born players are eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award.
Nicole Gosling
The former Clarkson Golden Knight's strong two-way presence was evident in her posting a +16 rating that ranked second among all rookies. Gosling's 19 points tied for the rookie lead at the rearguard position.
Casey O'Brien
O’Brien instantly became a vital piece of New York’s offense this season after being selected third overall in the 2025 PWHL Draft, delivering timely scoring and leading all first-year PWHL players with 22 points.
Haley Winn
Winn translated her game seamlessly from college to the professional level, providing Boston with steady offensive support (19 points on the season) and reliable physical play from the blue line throughout her rookie campaign.
Billie Jean King MVP
Awarded to the player considered most valuable to their team’s success throughout the regular season.
Ann-Renée Desbiens
Desbiens becomes one of the first two goaltenders to be named a finalist for the award, alongside Frankel, in recognition of her central role in the Victoire’s success. In 25 games, the 32-year-old goaltender co-led the PWHL with a record-setting 19 wins and a league-low six losses.
Aerin Frankel
The durable Frankel, who played in 26 games and notched a league-high eight shutouts, was at the heart of the Fleet's successful season. Her 19 wins in 26 starts, including 14 in regulation, co-led the league with Desbiens for a new single-season PWHL record.
Kelly Pannek
Pannek’s consideration for the award follows a campaign in which she strongly impacted Minnesota’s high-powered offense, delivering a single-season record of 33 points (16G, 17A) in 30 games to top the league leaderboard.
AWARD HISTORY
BILLIE JEAN KING MVP
Season | Winner | Finalists |
|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) | Hilary Knight (BOS) |
2024 | Natalie Spooner (TOR) | Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) |
FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Season | Winner | Finalists |
|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) | Sarah Fillier (NY) |
2024 | Natalie Spooner (TOR) | Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) |
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Season | Winner | Finalists |
|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Renata Fast (TOR) | Sophie Jaques (MIN) |
2024 | Erin Ambrose (MTL) | Megan Keller (BOS) |
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
presented by Rogers
Season | Winner | Finalists |
|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL) | Gwyneth Philips (OTT) |
2024 | Kristen Campbell (TOR) | Aerin Frankel (BOS) |
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Season | Winner | Finalists |
|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Sarah Fillier (NY) | Jenn Gardiner (MTL) |
2024 | Grace Zumwinkle (MIN) | Emma Maltais (TOR) |
COACH OF THE YEAR
Season | Winner | Finalists |
|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Kori Cheverie (MTL) | Troy Ryan (TOR) |
2024 | Troy Ryan (TOR) | Kori Cheverie (MTL) |
ILANA KLOSS PLAYOFF MVP
Season | Winner |
|---|---|
2025-26 | Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) |
2024-25 | Gwyneth Philips (OTT) |
2024 | Taylor Heise (MIN) |
PWHL ALL-STAR TEAMS
Season | First Team | Second Team | All-Rookie Team |
|---|---|---|---|
2024-25 | Forwards: | Forwards: | Forwards: |
2024 | Forwards: | Forwards: | Forwards: |
"HOCKEY FOR ALL" AWARD
The PWHL’s “Hockey for All” award presented by Scotiabank is awarded to the player who made the greatest impact in their community during the regular season. Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to a Canadian charity of the winner’s choice that supports youth or grassroots hockey, with a focus on accessibility, diversity, and inclusion. The winner will be selected by PWHL executives based on nominations submitted by all six teams.
Season | Winner |
|---|---|
2024-25 | Laura Stacey (MTL) |
2024 | Maureen Murphy (MTL) |
INTACT IMPACT AWARD
Honors one player on each team who consistently went the extra mile to help the team and be a great teammate, displaying exceptional leadership, integrity, and an unwavering commitment. In recognition of their impact, Intact Insurance will donate $20,000 CAD to a charity that supports youth development.
Season | Winners |
|---|---|
2024-25 | Boston Fleet: Jamie Lee Rattray |
SELECTION COMMITTEE & AWARDS VOTING
The 2025 PWHL awards selection committee featured a cross-section of representatives and a weighted model for tabulating votes:
- 50% of voting points to media across North America, including in the six team markets
- 25% of voting points to PWHL General Managers and Head Coaches
- 15% of voting points to PWHL broadcast talent
- 10% of voting points to the PWHLPA
The selection committee submitted their ballots between the conclusion of the regular-season and the commencement of the playoffs. Voters were asked to submit their top three choices for each award, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote, and one point for a third-place vote. Media members were provided ballots in consultation with the Women’s Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.