DETROIT, MI (June 17, 2026) – PWHL Detroit opened its draft history by selecting goaltender Andrea Brändli from Frölunda HC in the second round (15th overall) of the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck, marking the first draft selection in team history.
The 29-year-old native of Kloten, Switzerland, has represented her country at three Olympic Winter Games, including helping Switzerland capture a bronze medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Brändli started four games at the tournament, posting a 1.94 goals-against average, a .953 save percentage and one shutout en route to being named Best Goaltender. She spent the 2025-26 season with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL), registering a league-leading .945 save percentage and a 1.49 goals-against average that ranked second in the league. Brändli also played two seasons with MoDo Hockey in the SDHL, earning the league’s Best Goaltender award in 2024-25. Collegiately, she played five seasons split between Ohio State (2018-22) and Boston University (2022-23), earning All-WCHA honors three times and helping the Buckeyes capture the 2022 NCAA National Championship.
The first two rounds of the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck is 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 and follow along with all selections here.
ABOUT PWHL DETROIT
PWHL Detroit is one of 12 teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which was founded in 2023. The PWHL began its inaugural season in January 2024 and features the best women’s hockey players in the world. 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, opens in a new tab to secure priority access to season tickets for PWHL Detroit’s historic inaugural season, once ticket packages are released. To learn more and stay up to date, visit DetroitPWHL.com, subscribe to the newsletter here, opens in a new tab and follow the team on Facebook PWHL Detroit, opens in a new tab, Instagram @PWHL__Detroit, opens in a new tab, X @PWHL__Detroit, opens in a new tab, TikTok @PWHL__Detroit, opens in a new tab, YouTube PWHL Detroit, opens in a new tab, Threads @PWHL__Detroit, opens in a new tab, and Bluesky @PWHL--Detroit, opens in a new tab.
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