Before PWHL Seattle GM Meghan Turner made her first pick in Monday night’s PWHL Expansion Draft, she looked right at the camera and said: “Before I begin, I’d just like to say thank you to all our fans watching, including the watch parties at Rough & Tumble and 32 Bar and Grill and everyone else tuning in tonight. We built a good foundation with our early signings and I know we’re all excited to add to our core roster. We’re ready to get started in the Pacific Northwest and play at Climate Pledge this year.”
And the fanbase swooned. For real, it’s tough to imagine a better start to things in the Emerald City. There was the announcement press conference in April that got kicked off by none other than Skylar Diggins. The hiring of the highly touted Turner away from the Boston Fleet on May 21. A rollicking signing period last week that netted the team Hilary Knight (F), Danielle Serdachny (F), Cayla Barnes (D), Alex Carpenter (F) and Corinne Schroeder (G).
And then Monday night, which gave Turner the chance to further flesh out a roster that many league insiders see as possibly the favorites to win the 2026 Walter Cup. How’s that for an introduction?!
Seattle’s expansion draft strategy was clear: balance experience with youth while building a roster that can compete immediately at the same time it develops for the future. The team’s first selection was defender Aneta Tejralová from the Ottawa Charge, followed by Boston Fleet forward Hannah Bilka, who will be reunited with the aforementioned Knight, the former Boston captain and international hockey legend.
Turner’s final five picks in the expansion draft were Jessie Eldridge, Julia Gosling, Anna Wilgren, Megan Carter and Emily Brown.
These seven join the five players signed during the exclusive window to give Seattle a 12-player roster with the envious mix of veteran leadership and youthful upside. “We’re thrilled with the balance we’ve achieved,” Turner said after the draft.
The sheer thoroughness of Turner, who Jocks in Jills’ co-host Tessa Bonhomme says “is a brilliant hockey mind who’s gonna be a problem,” must feel like gravy to a Seattle fanbase that was overjoyed to get a team in the first place and then quickly landed Knight, arguably the most famous women’s hockey player in the world.
Gushed Turner about Knight, “Hillary is a superstar in every way. The way she plays, the way she carries herself in the locker room, the way she carries herself outside the rink. She’s just really got it all… I’m also excited for her to be part of the Seattle community. I think it’s going to be a really good fit for her. She’s going to do so well, and I think she’s just going to fit right in with a lot of the big names that already exist in Seattle.”
With a mix of star power, youth, and a GM known for her strategic mindset, Seattle is entering the league with optimism. Turner’s satisfaction with the expansion draft results is evident, and the organization is eager to introduce professional women’s hockey to the Emerald City.
Don’t be shocked if it’s the scene of a PWHL Championship celebration a year from now.
