Rory Guilday Signs with PWHL San Jose

On Friday, PWHL San Jose signed defender Rory Guilday to a two-year contract. Ahead of the expansion team's 2026-27 debut season, Guilday becomes the second of five to join the roster.

Before signing with San Jose, Guilday charted a road that included both milestones and hardship: overcoming partial vision loss, world championship medals, an Olympic title, and a top-five selection in the PWHL draft.

Minnesota Roots and Partial Vision Loss

Born in Chanhassen, Minnesota, Guilday developed an early love for hockey, playing the sport at the age of 5. As a child, a routine eye exam led to the discovery and diagnosis of optic nerve glioma, sidelining Guilday from contact sports to be treated with chemotherapy.

While Guilday lost most of the vision in her right eye, her brain adjusted when she returned to play. From a young age, Guilday adapted to the change, developing skills that would later support her progression through competition.

From Local Standout to National Prospect

At Minnetonka High School, Guilday became one of the state's most reliable defenders, recording 61 points across 92 career games. In her junior and senior season Guilday served as a team captain. The 23-year-old defender added 14 playoff games during her high-school tenure, being a dependable presence.

In Minnesota's Elite 16U and 19U programs, she earned recognition nationally, appearing in five games at the 2020 U18 World Championship. There, she scored one goal to help Team USA win a gold medal.

NCAA and International Play

Guilday continued developing her presence on the blueline at Cornell University. In four seasons, she played 105 NCAA games, contributing 19 goals and 33 assists, while finishing with a strong +44 plus-minus. Later on, she helped the Big Reds secure both the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Regular Season and ECAC Tournament Championships in 2024-25. In the same season, Guilday earned recognition on the ECAC Third All-Star Team.

Internationally, Guilday appeared in 21 games across three senior World Championships. She recorded six points and helped the U.S. win silver in 2022, gold in 2023, and silver in 2024. She also competed in all seven games during the 2026 Olympics, contributing to Team USA's gold-medal finish; reliable in high-pressure environments.

PWHL Draft and Present

Guilday entered the professional level as a top prospect, selected fifth overall in the 2025 PWHL Draft by the Ottawa Charge. As a rookie she appeared in 30 games, logging nine points. Post-season, she added two assists through eight games.

Guilday now joins the PWHL San Jose roster alongside Canadian goaltender Corinne Schroeder, signed June 5.

As Phase 2 of the PWHL Expansion Player Distribution Process continues, San Jose will be permitted to sign three more players from its 20-player Exclusive Negotiation List. The window closes June 8, giving expansion teams the chance to secure their core roster before the player-selection begins.

With her 5'11", 160-pound frame and a composed, adaptable defensive play, Guilday gives San Jose an immediate standard on the blue line. She enters the franchise's inaugural season as an impactful addition in a growing lineup.