TORONTO – Seven former Wisconsin women's hockey players were drafted in the 2023 Professional Women's Hockey League Draft on Monday afternoon.

Kristen Campbell was the first Badger off the board as the goaltender was the 14th overall pick by Toronto. Jesse Compher was also picked by Toronto, going 26th overall, while Daryl Watts was selected by Ottawa with the 32nd pick. UW defender Natalie Buchbinder was selected by Minnesota with the 37th pick while fellow defender Mellissa Channell went 59th to Toronto. Sophia (Shaver) Kunin was the 60th overall pick by Minnesota while Sophie Shirley went 63rd to Boston. 

The seven drafted Badgers will join six additional Badgers who were signed by PWHL teams during the free-agency process prior to the draft. Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull were signed by Toronto, Ann-Renee Desbiens inked a deal with Montreal, Emily Clark signed with Ottawa, Hilary Knight signed with Boston and Abby Roque signed with New York. 

The Most Outstanding Performer of the 2019 NCAA Women's Frozen Four, Campbell backstopped UW to the 2019 NCAA championship thanks to three-straight shutouts in the NCAA tournament. During her time at Wisconsin, she was a two-time All-America and also was a finalist for the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. A native of Brandon, Manitoba, Campbell has international experience as well, winning gold with Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

A 2022 Olympian with Team USA, Compher made her mark during her lone season in Madison, helping UW capture the 2023 NCAA Championship. An alternate captain, Compher posted 40 points, including six points in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, to earn all-tournament honors. The Northbrook, Illinois, native posted 167 career points during her time in collegiate hockey as she played four seasons at Boston University prior to joining UW for the 2022-23 campaign. 

The 2018 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Winner, Watts led the Badgers to the 2021 NCAA Championship as the Toronto native scored the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch UW's sixth NCAA title. A four-time All-American, Watts set the school record with 49 assists during the shortened 2019-20 season and became only the fifth Badger to average 2.00 points per game in her career. 

A three-time NCAA champion during her time in Madison, Buchbinder recorded 55 points from the Badger blueline and had a career +99 rating. An alternate captain on last year's NCAA title team, Buchbinder skated with Team USA at the 2021 My Why Tour after making her national team debut with Team USA in 2019. The Fairport, New York, native excelled in the classroom, earning four Academic All-Big Ten honors and four WCHA All-Academic accolades. 

Channell was a part of four NCAA Frozen Four teams during her time at UW from 2013-17, helping UW win multiple WCHA regular-season and tournament crowns in the process. The Oakville, Ontario, native scored the game-winning goal in the 2017 NCAA Women's Frozen Four semifinal to propel UW to the NCAA title game. In addition, she was a part of a stingy Badger defense that held opponents to an NCAA-record 0.72 goals per game during the 2015-16 season. 

A native of Wayzata, Minnesota, Kunin posted 80 points during her four years in Madison and earned second-team All-WCHA honors during the 2017-18 season.  Kunin captained the 2019 NCAA Championship team and scored the game-winning goal in the title game to lead UW to its fifth NCAA crown. She also was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a three-time WCHA All-Academic honoree. 

A three-time NCAA champion, Shirley graduated from UW ranking in the top-10 in goals (81) and points (188). The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native was a two-time top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and was a first-team All-WCHA selection in 2010. Her best season came in the 2019-20 campaign when she posted a career-best 61 points, helping UW to the 2020 WCHA regular-season crown. 

The six inaugural franchises will begin their 24-game regular season in January 2024.

Badgers in the PWHL (By Franchise)

PWHL Boston
Hilary Knight,UW: 2007-12 (Free Agency)
Sophie Shirley, UW: 2018-23 (Draft - Round 11, Pick 63)

PWHL Minnesota
Natalie Buchbinder, UW: 2018-23 (Draft - Round 7, Pick 37)
Sophia (Shaver) Kunin, UW: 2015-19 (Draft - Round 10, Pick 60)

PWHL Montreal
Ann-Renee Desbiens, UW: 2013-17 (Free Agency)

PWHL New York
Abby Roque, UW: 2016-20 (Free Agency)

PWHL Ottawa
Emily Clark, UW: 2014-19 (Free Agency)
Daryl Watts, UW: 2019-22 (Draft - Round 6, Pick 32)

PWHL Toronto
Kristen Campbell, UW: 2017-20 (Draft - Round 3, Pick 14)
Mellissa Channell, UW: 2013-17 (Draft - Round 10, Pick 59)
Jesse Compher, UW: 2022-23 (Draft-  Round 5, Pick 26)
Sarah Nurse, UW: 2013-17 (Free Agency)
Blayre Turnbull, UW: 2011-15 (Free Agency)