Abbey Murphy Gives Seattle Torrent a Dynamic Offensive Foundation
Written by Lindsay Burke
When the Seattle Torrent selected Abbey Murphy with the second overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, they added one of the most dynamic offensive players in women’s hockey.
After a dominant final season at the University of Minnesota and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA, Murphy enters the PWHL with a proven ability to produce against elite competition. Seattle’s No. 2 pick represents more than a talented prospect. Murphy has the skill set to become an offensive centerpiece for an emerging franchise.
A Dominant Final Season
Murphy’s final collegiate season was the best of her career.
The Evergreen Park, Illinois, native recorded a career-high 66 points, including 40 goals and 26 assists, in 31 games during the 2025-26 season. She led the NCAA in both points per game (2.13) and goals per game (1.29), while earning WCHA Forward of the Year and All-WCHA First Team honors.
Murphy also carved her name into Minnesota history. She finished her collegiate career as the Gophers’ all-time leader in goals with 143 and second in career points with 261.
Her production was not limited to one standout season, either. Murphy surpassed 50 points in each of her final three seasons, establishing herself as one of the NCAA’s most consistent offensive threats.
Speed, Skill and an Aggressive Style
The numbers only tell part of the story when it comes to what makes Murphy so difficult to defend.
She plays with constant momentum, using her speed to attack defenders and create opportunities before opposing defenses can get set. Her willingness to hunt for loose pucks and compete through contact adds another layer to her game. Former Minnesota teammate Sydney Morrow described Murphy as “one of the hardest workers that I know” in her 2026 PWHL Draft Prospect video.
Murphy’s finishing ability is perhaps her most obvious weapon, but she is far from a player who simply waits for scoring opportunities. Her passing ability allows her to create plays for herself and her teammates, even in traffic.
The PWHL will present more physical and defensive challenges than the NCAA, but Murphy’s combination of speed, skill and aggression should give her a strong foundation for the transition. The PWHL’s own draft profile highlighted those same traits, noting that Murphy attacks with speed, hunts pucks aggressively and thrives in traffic.
For a Torrent team still establishing its identity, Murphy’s ability to push the pace could become especially valuable.
Gold-Medal Experience
Murphy has already experienced the pressure that comes with competing on hockey’s biggest stages.
At the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, she helped Team USA capture a gold medal while recording seven points in seven games, including two goals and five assists.
That experience adds another layer to Murphy’s résumé. She has already competed alongside many of the world’s best players and performed in games where the margin for error was minimal.
Now, she will look to bring that experience into her first professional season.
A Foundational Piece for Seattle
Being selected second overall comes with significant expectations, especially for a young expansion franchise still establishing its identity.
Seattle’s selection gives the Torrent a proven goal scorer who can influence the game in multiple ways. Her collegiate production, Olympic experience and aggressive playing style give the team a player capable of making an immediate impact.
Murphy also arrives with room to grow. At 24 years old, she enters the PWHL with more experience than most first-year players, but her best hockey could still be ahead of her.
Seattle is building toward its future, and Murphy has the potential to be at the center of it. If her fast, fearless style translates to the PWHL, she could quickly establish herself as one of the Torrent’s most important players.
