Ava Rinker, Jada Habisch taken back-to-back in 2025 PWHL Draft

UConn women’s hockey had two players selected in the 2025 PWHL Draft — and they went back-to-back.

The Minnesota Frost — who have won the only two championships since the league began play — picked defender Ava Rinker with the sixth pick in the fourth round (30th overall) while the expansion Seattle franchise took Jada Habisch with the next pick (31st overall).

Rinker and Habisch are the first Huskies drafted in the PWHL. If they make their respective teams, they’ll be the fourth and fifth former UConn players in the fledgling league, joining Elaine Chuli, Natalie Snodgrass and Michela Cava.

Rinker was a mainstay on the blue line for UConn during her four seasons and never missed a game, playing in 144 total. As a senior, she wore an “A” on her sweater and earned All-Hockey East First Team All-Star honors. Rinker scored a pair of goals in the regular season finale to lead the Huskies to a 3-1 win over Boston University that clinched the Hockey East title. She ultimately finished with three goals and 17 assists.

Meanwhile, Habisch is one of the most prolific goal scorers to come through UConn. Across her five seasons in Storrs, she found the back of the net 61 times and totaled 94 points — good for fourth and seventh in program history, respectively.

The PWHL is the newest women’s hockey league to launch and only began play in January 2024. The league features eight teams and just completed its second season.