OTTAWA, Canada (Diya TV) — The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) made history Tuesday night during its 2025 draft. Held in Ottawa, the league selected 48 players from around the world, marking a major step forward for women’s hockey and global representation in the sport.

Among the night’s many highlights, forward Chanreet Bassi became the first South Asian player ever drafted in PWHL history. She was selected with the final pick by the new franchise, PWHL Vancouver, a move that signals growing diversity and inclusion in professional women’s hockey.

The New York Sirens held the first overall pick and made headlines by selecting Kristyna Kaltounkova, a standout forward from Colgate University. The 23-year-old from the Czech Republic became the first Czech player taken first overall in league history. Kaltounkova had a stellar college career, scoring 26 goals and 48 points in 37 games last season. She leaves Colgate as the school’s all-time leading goal scorer with 111 goals and ranks second in career points with 233.

“What a great honor representing, not just myself, but my country,” Kaltounkova said. “I hope little girls watching see that it’s possible, no matter where you’re from.”

This marks the second year in a row that New York picked first overall.

The 2025 draft followed the PWHL’s expansion to include Seattle and Vancouver. These new teams are set to hit the ice next season, bringing professional women’s hockey to the West Coast. With their first-ever pick, Vancouver selected veteran Michelle Karvinen, a 35-year-old Finnish forward with a decorated international career. Karvinen played college hockey at the University of North Dakota and has won Olympic medals, Russian and Swedish league titles.

“I’m familiar with building from the ground up,” Karvinen said. “I’ve seen it all on the ice, and I’m excited to help shape this team.”

She will reunite with head coach Brian Idalski, who first recruited her to North Dakota 15 years ago.

Seattle used its first pick to take Jenna Buglioni, a Canadian forward from Port Moody, British Columbia. Buglioni is eager to play close to home as the league expands westward. Unlike developmental drafts in other leagues, PWHL teams aimed to pick players ready to contribute right away. In total, 30 forwards, 13 defenders, and five goalies were chosen in six rounds.

Haley Winn, who led Clarkson University with 46 points, went second overall to the Boston Fleet. At No. 3, New York picked Casey O’Brien from the University of Wisconsin after trading up with Toronto. O’Brien led the NCAA in scoring last season with 88 points.

“It’s special that they traded up for me,” she said. “That means a lot.”

Nicole Gosling was the first Canadian picked, going fourth overall to the Montreal Victoire. The Ottawa Charge picked defender Rory Guilday from Cornell, while Minnesota Frost added Kendall Cooper to their blue line.

With the final pick, Vancouver chose Chanreet Bassi, a forward from the University of British Columbia. She was the only player selected from a Canadian university, highlighting the depth of talent in USports.

“USports doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” said Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey. “There are a lot of really great players there.”

Bassi’s selection represents a milestone moment for both the league and the South Asian community.

Several trades were made throughout the night. Toronto sent goalie Kristen Campbell to Vancouver in exchange for the 16th and 23rd overall picks. Vancouver had already picked up Emerance Maschmeyer in the expansion draft, forming what Gardner Morey calls the “best goalie tandem in the league.”

Montreal acquired forward Abby Roque from New York for forward Kristin O’Neill and a draft pick. The draft also saw Abby Hustler, selected 14th overall by Minnesota, become the first player drafted from Prince Edward Island.

The 2025 PWHL Draft signaled big changes for the league. With two new teams, more global players, and new milestones for diversity, the league continues to grow in reach and impact. The night in Ottawa was more than a draft — it was a celebration of how far women’s hockey has come and how far it can go.