Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
MICO USA Women's Hockey Team: 100% NCAA

Media Center Asha Evans and Kobe Mosley

NCAA-built Team USA wins Olympic gold in Milan Cortina

All 23 players had NCAA experience as U.S. depth and goaltending defined the medal run

When Team USA skated into bracket play at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, the roster looked like a greatest-hits tour of women's college hockey.

All 23 players had NCAA experience, making Team USA a full-roster showcase of the college game's most accomplished stars. And once elimination hockey arrived, those NCAA-built habits and championship experiences showed up in the biggest moments.

The U.S. powered through the knockout round, then finished the job in the gold medal game with a 2-1 overtime win over Canada to claim Olympic gold.

At a glance 

NCAA alums on Team USA: All 23 players.

NCAA programs represented: Eight.

Olympics finish: Gold (2-1 overtime win vs. Canada).

Record watch: Hilary Knight makes U.S. Olympic history

Hilary Knight entered the medal round with history within reach, and she delivered when it mattered most, scoring late in the gold medal game to force overtime. Her goal also set a new U.S. Olympic women's goals and points records.

Tournament leaders: Team USA goal scorers

Team USA's gold-medal run was powered by balanced scoring from across the lineup.

Team USA tournament goal leaders:

  • Hannah Bilka — 4.

  • Kendall Coyne Schofield — 3.

  • Alex Carpenter — 3.

  • Hilary Knight — 3.

  • Megan Keller — 3.

  • Hayley Scamurra — 3. 

In all, 11 U.S. players scored 2 or more goals during the tournament — a reflection of a roster built on NCAA depth rather than relying on one primary scorer.

When elimination margins shrink, teams need offense from everywhere. Team USA's NCAA-developed lineup delivered exactly that.

Aerin Frankel's Olympic statement

Aerin Frankel entered Milan Cortina already holding one of the most dominant single seasons in NCAA history.

In 2021 at Northeastern, she set the NCAA single-season save percentage record at .965.

At the Winter Olympics, she raised that bar even higher — posting a .980 save percentage against elite international competition, which led all goalkeepers at the Olympics.

From rewriting the NCAA record book to anchoring an Olympic gold-medal run, Frankel's performance underscored how the college game prepares goaltenders for the sport's highest-pressure moments.

Pool-play production: Team USA goal scorers (U.S. players only)

The NCAA connection isn't just on the roster — it showed up on the scoresheet in pool play, too.

Top U.S. goal scorers in pool play

  • Alex Carpenter — 3
  • Hannah Bilka — 3

Multiple-goal scorers

  • Hilary Knight — 2
  • Joy Dunne — 2
  • Hayley Scamurra — 2
  • Caroline Harvey — 2

Also scored

  • Taylor Heise — 1
  • Megan Keller — 1
  • Abbey Murphy — 1
  • Haley Winn — 1
  • Kirsten Simms — 1
  • Laila Edwards — 1

Bracket play rewards teams that can score in different ways — and Team USA's pool-play list reflects a roster built on depth, not just star power.

NCAA programs represented on Team USA

Here's how many Olympians have ties to each NCAA program (transfers are counted for each school):

  • Wisconsin (6): Britta Curl-Salemme, Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Hilary Knight, Ava McNaughton, Kirsten Simms. 
  • Minnesota (5): Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, Grace Zumwinkle. 
  • Boston College (4): Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Megan Keller.
  • Northeastern (4): Kendall Coyne Schofield, Aerin Frankel, Gwyneth Philips, Hayley Scamurra.
  • Ohio State (3): Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Joy Dunne.
  • Clarkson: Haley Winn.
  • Cornell: Rory Guilday.
  • Penn State: Tessa Janecke.

From campus to Milan Cortina, and back again

While most members of the Team USA roster are now competing professionally, seven players are still playing college hockey. Those student-athletes will look to bring an Olympic medal back to their campuses and provide a boost to their teams for the final stretch of the season to the NCAA championship, March 20-22. 

  • Wisconsin: Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Ava McNaughton, Kirsten Simms. 
  • Minnesota: Abbey Murphy.
  • Ohio State: Joy Dunne.
  • Penn State: Tessa Janecke. 

Title-winning talent: NCAA's best represented

Women's college hockey is well represented on this roster, featuring NCAA champions and former student-athletes who have battled on the sport's biggest collegiate stage — the Women's Frozen Four. They bring championship pedigree and high-pressure experience to Team USA.

National champions

Wisconsin (NCAA record eight national titles)

  • Britta Curl-Salemme (2019, 2021, 2023).
  • Laila Edwards (2023, 2025).
  • Caroline Harvey (2023, 2025).
  • Kirsten Simms (2023, 2025).
  • Hilary Knight (2009, 2011).
  • Ava McNaughton (2025).

Minnesota

  • Lee Stecklein (2013, 2015, 2016).
  • Kelly Pannek (2015, 2016).

Ohio State

  • Cayla Barnes (2024).
  • Hannah Bilka (2024).
  • Joy Dunne (2024).

Frozen Four appearances 

  • Wisconsin: Britta Curl-Salemme (2019, 2021, 2023-24), Hilary Knight (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012), Laila Edwards (2023-25), Caroline Harvey (2023-25), Kirsten Simms (2023-25), Ava McNaughton (2024, 2025).
  • Minnesota: Kelly Pannek (2015-17, 2019), Lee Stecklein (2013, 2015-17), Abbey Murphy (2023, 2025), Taylor Heise (2019, 2023), Grace Zumwinkle (2019, 2023).
  • Ohio State: Joy Dunne (2024, 2025), Cayla Barnes (2024), Hannah Bilka (2024).
  • Boston College: Megan Keller (2015, 2016, 2017), Alex Carpenter (2013, 2015, 2016). 
  • Northeastern: Gwyneth Philips (2021-23), Aerin Frankel (2021-22). 
  • Clarkson: Haley Winn (2024).
  • Cornell: Rory Guilday (2025).

Frozen Four moments that still echo

If you're building a highlight reel of recent NCAA tournament drama, Team USA is all over it.

  • Kirsten Simms' championship résumé is already legendary: She scored the lone goal in Wisconsin's 1-0 national title win in 2023, then authored the comeback in 2025 with a late penalty shot and the overtime winner.
  • Ohio State's 2024 national title moment: Freshman Joy Dunne scored the game winner in the third period of the championship game, assisted by Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes.
  • A defender's Frozen Four shine: A Wisconsin standout, Caroline Harvey scored the overtime winner in a 2023 national semifinal to push the Badgers into the title game.
  • Wisconsin's 2025 title run had Team USA fingerprints everywhere: Laila Edwards scored in the championship game and Ava McNaughton delivered in net as the Badgers claimed the program's eighth NCAA title.
  • Gopher giants: Lee Stecklein and Kelly Pannek each made four Frozen Four appearances with Minnesota, with Stecklein winning three NCAA titles as a Gopher and Pannek being part of two. Stecklein recorded two assists in a semifinal win against Wisconsin in 2016 en route to earning Frozen Four All-Tournament honors. Pannek contributed key assists in semifinal wins as a freshman and junior. 

NCAA award winners and record holders on the roster

Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners (NCAA's top player)

  • Alex Carpenter (2015, Boston College).
  • Kendall Coyne Schofield (2016, Northeastern).
  • Aerin Frankel (2021, Northeastern).
  • Taylor Heise (2022, Minnesota).

Julie Chu Women's National Rookie of the Year 

  • Hannah Bilka (2020, Boston College).
  • Tessa Janecke (2023, Penn State).
  • Joy Dunne (2024, Ohio State).

Women's National Goalie of the Year 

  • Aerin Frankel (2021 and 2022, Northeastern).
  • Gwyneth Philips (2023, Northeastern).
  • Ava McNaughton (2025, Wisconsin).

Notable NCAA records book appearances 

  • Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern): Holds the NCAA career save percentage (.958), goals against average records (0.96). Ranks second in career goalie winning percentage (.913).
  • Ava McNaughton (Wisconsin): Held the NCAA career goalie winning percentage (.919) at the end of her first two seasons.
  • Hilary Knight (Wisconsin): Ranks third in NCAA career goals (143), tied for first for power-play goals in a game (3), second in career game-winning goals (30) and tied for second for goals in a game (5). 
  • Kendall Coyne Schofield (Northeastern): Ranks second in single-season goals (50) and third in career short-handed goals (14).
  • Aerin Frankel (Northeastern): Holds the single-season save percentage record at .965, which she posted in 2021. Her 2021 campaign also ranks third in the NCAA single-season goals against average (0.81). She also ranks No. 3 all time in career save percentage at .949 and is tied for third in career goalie shutouts at 39.

NCAA annual stat leaders

  • Points per game: Alex Carpenter, Boston College (2.19 in 2015), Kendall Coyne Schofield, Northeastern (2.27 in 2016), Taylor Heise, Minnesota (1.69 in 2022).
  • Goals per game: Hilary Knight, Wisconsin (1.15 in 2011), Alex Carpenter, Boston College (1.00 in 2015), Kendall Coyne Schofield, Northeastern (1.35 in 2016), Taylor Heise, Minnesota (0.77 in 2023).
  • Assists per game: Alex Carpenter, Boston College (1.19 in 2015; 1.10 in 2016), Kelly Pannek, Minnesota (1.10 in 2017).
  • Power-play goals: Hilary Knight, Wisconsin (16 in 2009), Abbey Murphy, Minnesota (13 in 2024).
  • Short-handed goals: Hilary Knight, Wisconsin (tied for first with four in 2012), Kendall Coyne Schofield, Northeastern (four in 2015; tied for first with five in 2016), Taylor Heise, Minnesota (five in 2022).
  • Game-winning goals: Hilary Knight, Wisconsin (10 in 2012), Alex Carpenter, Boston College (nine in 2015), Joy Dunne, Ohio State/Abbey Murphy, Minnesota/Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin (tied for first with seven in 2025).
  • Save percentage: Aerin Frankel, Northeastern (.958 in 2020; .965 in 2021), Gwyneth Philips, Northeastern (.960 in 2023; .955 in 2024).
  • Goals against average: Aerin Frankel, Northeastern (0.81 in 2021), Gwyneth Philips, Northeastern (0.87 in 2023), Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin (1.24 in 2025).
  • Goalie winning percentage: Aerin Frankel, Northeastern (.891 in 2021), Gwyneth Philips, Northeastern (.908 in 2023), Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin (.949 in 2025).
Print Friendly Version