- May 21, 2026
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With the second-overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, the Seattle Torrent selected Abbey Murphy from the University of Minnesota.
Murphy, 24, is coming off a 2025-26 campaign that put her among the best offensive players in the NCAA. She finished second in the country in goals with 40 goals and second in points with 66 — both career highs.
The Evergreen, Park, Ill., native finished her NCAA career with 143 goals and 118 assists for 261 points in five seasons, making her the sixth-highest goal scorer in college hockey history. Murphy, a two-time Patty Kazmaier Award finalist, is also 12th on the all-time points list.
Murphy was a major contributor for the gold medal-winning U.S. National Team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where in seven games, she scored two goals and recorded five assists for seven points. She also helped the U.S. earn silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Her and the U.S. won two World Championships in 2023 and 2025.
Daily Faceoff PWHL writer Tyler Kuehl said this about Murphy in his top-15 NCAA prospects piece going into the 2025-26 campaign:
“Had she decided to forgo playing a fifth season with the Golden Gophers, Murphy would’ve been taken first overall by the New York Sirens this past June. However, she decided to take one more kick at the can,” Kuehl wrote. “There’s so much to like about (Murphy). She’s physical, tenacious, and, by golly, can she put the puck in the back of the net. She’s potted 33 goals in each of the past two seasons and has the tools to be a big-time player right away in the P-Dub.”
Kuehl also wrote this about Murphy in his NCAA prospect piece after the Olympics last February:
“She’s one of the most talented players in the game. She put that on display in Team USA’s rout of Canada in the group stage and was one of the key pieces in helping the team win gold in Milan. Her confidence will be at an all-time high in returning to Minneapolis.
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Murphy, 24, is coming off a 2025-26 campaign that put her among the best offensive players in the NCAA. She finished second in the country in goals with 40 goals and second in points with 66 — both career highs.
The Evergreen, Park, Ill., native finished her NCAA career with 143 goals and 118 assists for 261 points in five seasons, making her the sixth-highest goal scorer in college hockey history. Murphy, a two-time Patty Kazmaier Award finalist, is also 12th on the all-time points list.
Murphy was a major contributor for the gold medal-winning U.S. National Team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where in seven games, she scored two goals and recorded five assists for seven points. She also helped the U.S. earn silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Her and the U.S. won two World Championships in 2023 and 2025.
Daily Faceoff PWHL writer Tyler Kuehl said this about Murphy in his top-15 NCAA prospects piece going into the 2025-26 campaign:
“Had she decided to forgo playing a fifth season with the Golden Gophers, Murphy would’ve been taken first overall by the New York Sirens this past June. However, she decided to take one more kick at the can,” Kuehl wrote. “There’s so much to like about (Murphy). She’s physical, tenacious, and, by golly, can she put the puck in the back of the net. She’s potted 33 goals in each of the past two seasons and has the tools to be a big-time player right away in the P-Dub.”
Kuehl also wrote this about Murphy in his NCAA prospect piece after the Olympics last February:
“She’s one of the most talented players in the game. She put that on display in Team USA’s rout of Canada in the group stage and was one of the key pieces in helping the team win gold in Milan. Her confidence will be at an all-time high in returning to Minneapolis.
Continue reading...