Vancouver selected Ashton Bell, a defender for the Ottawa Charge, as the top pick in Monday's expansion draft of the Professional Women's Hockey League.

Seattle chose Aneta Tejralova, a defender from Ottawa and Hannah Bilka, a forward from Boston Fleet.

Bell, 25, scored three goals and had three assists in 27 Ottawa games last season. She has five goals and eight assists through two seasons (51 matches) with the Charge.

The University of Minnesota Duluth product played a key role in Canada's 2022 Olympic gold medal-winning team, as well as its 2021-2022 and 2024 champion squads at the IIHF Women's World Championships.

Tejralova, 29 years old, scored one goal and had nine assists last season. She had previously scored two goals and accumulated six assists during the previous campaign. She has won bronze medals for the Czech Republic at both the 2022 and the 2023 World Championships.

Bilka, 24, has just completed a rookie season in which she scored five goals and had six assists for the Fleet. The Ohio State alumna played on the United States winning squad for 2023 World Championships.

Vancouver's general manager Cara Gardner Morey chose the option of having the first and second picks, after winning the lottery. Seattle made its selections at Nos. The teams made two picks each at Nos.

Vancouver chose five forwards and only two defenders while Seattle selected four defenders but three forwards.

Both teams were able to sign five players who had been left unprotected from the six existing clubs. Each team reached their limit. Seattle made a splash when they signed former Boston forward Hilary Knight. She is a four-time U.S. Olympian.

Vancouver and Seattle have not yet announced their nicknames for joining the PWSL in 2025-26.

Vancouver's PWSL expansion draft picks

D Ashton Bell from Ottawa Charge

F Brooke McQuigge from Minnesota Frost

F Abby Boreen from Montreal Victoire

F Izzy Daniel from Toronto Sceptres

F Gabby Rosenthal - New York Sirens

F Denisa Krizova from Minnesota Frost

D Sydney Bard from Boston Fleet

Seattle's PWSL draft picks

D Aneta Tejralova from Ottawa Charge

F Hannah Bilka from Boston Fleet

F Jessie Eldridge from New York Sirens

F Julia Gosling from Toronto Sceptres

D Anna Wilgren from Montreal Victoire

D Megan Carter from Toronto Sceptres

D Emily Brown from Boston Fleet

Vancouver signs players

D Claire Thompson, former Minnesota Frost

D Sophie Jaques, former Minnesota Frost

F Sarah Nurse, former Toronto Sceptres

G Emerance Maschmeyer was formerly with Ottawa Charge

F Jennifer Gardiner formerly of Montreal Victoire

Seattle Signs Players

F Hilary Knight, former Boston Fleet

Danielle Serdachny was formerly with Ottawa Charge

D Cayla Barnes was formerly a member of Montreal Victoire

F Alex Carpenter, former member of New York Sirens

G Corinne Schroeder was formerly with New York Sirens

Field Level Media

(source: Reuters)