Let's ger right to it: Caroline 'KK" Harvey enters the 2026 PWHL Draft as the clear headliner of the class. The University of Wisconsin defender arrives with a rare résumé: Patty Kazmaier Award winner, three-time NCAA champion and a reigning Olympic gold medalist with the United States who didn't just help the Americans to gold; she was named both MVP and Best Defender at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina. It's almost unprecedented for a prospect in any sport to reach the professional draft stage having already accomplished as much as Harvey has at this point in her hockey life.
Harvey, who also played for the 2022 U.S. Winter Olympic Games team, grew up in New England and has been known in hockey circles for a long time. Check out her 2026 Draft Prospects Video to learn more:
Harvey's game starts with dynamic skating she picked up at an extremely young age, but it does not end there. Harvey changes the shape of a shift from the blue line, using her feet, vision and timing to move pucks through pressure and create offense without putting her defense at risk. She produces offense at an elite rate for a defender while still carrying the habits needed to handle top matchups.
Harvey was the very first guest on Jocks Next Gen and she shared the story of how she's reached this point:
Harvey, who also appeared on Jocks in Jillsheading into Milano Cortina, opens in a new tab, possesses a blend of star power and reliability that makes her a potential franchise-defining one. She projects as an immediate top-pairing defender and the type of player a team can build its blue line around from day one.
Header photo c/o University of Wisconsin Athletics
