DETROIT, Mich. – A quartet of standout Yale women's ice hockey players were selected in the 2026 Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) Draft on Tuesday evening at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. Jordan Ray was picked with the 11th pick of the second round by the Ottawa Charge. Carina DiAntonio was chosen 31st overall by the New York Sirens, while Gracie Gilkyson was drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Torrent. Naomi Boucher was selected in the sixth round by New York, joining DiAntonio.
The fourth annual PWHL Draft introduced the next wave of talent, as the league's 12 teams selected 72 players over six rounds.
This marked the first PWHL Draft in which Yale had multiple players selected. Ray is Yale's highest-drafted player in program history and the first-ever Florida native to be selected.
DiAntonio and Boucher are the third and fourth Yale players to be drafted by New York, joining former teammates Anna Bargman (fifth round – 2025) and Elle Hartje (fifth round – 2024). Claire Dalton '23 was selected by Montreal in the 12th round in 2023.
The strong Yale senior quartet led the Bulldogs to an ECAC regular season title and an NCAA Regional Finals appearance in 2025-26.
Ray, the Bulldogs' first-line center, also stood out as one of the top facilitators in the country in her senior season. She tallied 33 assists to go along with 17 goals and became the fifth Yale player to reach the 50-point mark in a single season. Ray concluded her collegiate career near the top of Yale's all-time leaderboard, finishing second in assists (90), third in points (145) and fifth in goals (55).
"Jordan is an exceptional skater and has tremendous playmaking abilities," Bolding said. "She is a consistent offensive threat and is excellent on entries with her puck possession style. She's been one of the most dynamic scorers in our conference. Her speed and quick thinking will make her a great pro player."
DiAntonio had an outstanding senior season as a first-line winger for the Bulldogs in 2025-26, recording 26 goals and 22 assists. She earned All-Ivy League and All-ECAC Hockey honors and was a NEWHA All-Star. DiAntonio wrapped up her collegiate career as one of the best players in program history, finishing second in goals (63), fifth in points (130) and sixth in assists (67).
"Carina is a high-IQ player, with great vision, edge work and playmaking abilities," Mark Bolding, Susan Cavanagh Head Coach of Yale Women's Hockey, said. "As our captain this past year, she took charge with the group and had an amazing season. She has a quick and accurate shot, and she was very productive on the power play and can play in any situation."
Gilkyson was a steady two-way defender for the Bulldogs over the course of her collegiate career. The Calgary native finished her Yale tenure having played in 123 games while recording 19 goals and 39 assists.
"Gracie is a dependable and smart puck-moving defender who makes a great first pass as a breakout specialist," Bolding said. "She likes to jump into the play and can add offensive help on every rush. She is strong in her own zone defensively. She has huge offensive upside."
Boucher was an impactful, physical player for the Bulldogs, appearing in 131 games. The Quebec native tallied 20 goals and 39 assists throughout her career and was a faceoff and special teams specialist.
"Naomi is a hard-nosed, 200-foot player who is a terrific center and faceoff specialist," Bolding said. "She plays a physical style and is excellent on the forecheck and in her defensive responsibilities. She had a great offensive year, earning power-play time and was instrumental in our success this year."
The PWHL will kick off its fourth season in fall 2026.
Yale All-Time Draft Picks
