As the puck drops at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, one theme is impossible to miss — the presence of NCAA women's hockey student-athletes. Across all national team rosters, 53% of all women's ice hockey Olympians (122 of 230) have NCAA experience (see full NCAA Olympic dashboard), with Team USA being made up of 100% current or former student-athletes.
With 40 current NCAA student-athletes and 82 alums, including a number of national champions, Frozen Four veterans and major award winners — the women's ice hockey games at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics showcase how NCAA women's hockey continues to shape the sport's biggest stage.
NCAA division representation
- Division I: 92 student-athletes.
- Division II: 17 student-athletes.
- Division III: 15 student-athletes.
NCAA conferences
The Olympic women's ice hockey field reflects the competitive landscape of college hockey with 16 NCAA conferences represented.
- Big Ten Conference: 38.
- Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference: 16.
- Liberty League: 12.
- The Ivy League: 11.
- America East Conference: 10.
- Coastal Athletic Association: 9.
- Patriot League: 9.
- Atlantic Coast Conference: 5.
- Big East Conference: 5.
- The Summit League: 5.
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference: 4.
- Northeast Conference: 3.
- New England Small College Athletic Conference: 2.
- Ohio Valley Conference: 2.
- Great Northeast Athletic Conference: 1.
- Northeast 10 Conference: 1.
There are six sport-specific conferences represented as well — Western Collegiate Hockey Association (54), Hockey East (32), Eastern College Athletic Conference (28), Atlantic Hockey America (9), New England Women's Hockey Alliance (3) and Little East Conference (1).
School representation
There are 36 NCAA schools represented in this year's Olympic women's ice hockey field.
- Ohio State (13): Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Andrea Brändli, Joy Dunne, Jenn Gardiner, Sophie Jaques, Mira Jungåker, Sofie Lundin, Emma Maltais, Jenna Raunio, Natalie Spooner, Hilda Svensson, Sanni Vanhanen.
- Wisconsin (12): Emily Clark, Britta Curl-Salemme, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Hilary Knight, Ava McNaughton, Sarah Nurse, Adéla Šapovalivová, Kirsten Simms, Blayre Turnbull, Daryl Watts.
- Minnesota (9): Josefin Bouveng, Taylor Heise, Nelli Laitinen, Natálie Mlýnková, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Tereza Plosová, Lee Stecklein, Grace Zumwinkle.
- Northeastern (9): Chloé Aurard-Bushee, Alessia Baechler, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Aerin Frankel, Lisa Johansson, Denisa Krížová, Alina Müller, Gwyneth Philips, Hayley Scamurra.
- Minnesota Duluth (8): Tindra Holm, Katarina "Nina" Jobst-Smith, Thea Johansson, Ida Karlsson, Jocelyne Larocque, Katerina Mrázová, Emma Söderberg, Lara Stalder.
- St. Cloud State (8): Sanni Ahola, Klára Hymlárová, Laura Kluge, Emilia Kyrkkö, Jenniina Nylund, Svenja Voight, Siiri Yrjölä, Laura Zimmermann.
- Clarkson (7): Erin Ambrose, Renata Fast, Manon le Scodan, Michaela Pejzlová, Ella Shelton, Andrea Trnková, Haley Winn.
- University of Maine (7): Anna Caumo, Rahel Enzler, Ida Kuoppala, Vendula Pribylová, Tereza Vanišová, Lilli Welcke, Luisa Welcke.
- Boston U. (6): Andrea Brändli, Nadia Mattivi, Marie-Philip Poulin, Kayla Tutino, Lilli Welcke, Luisa Welcke.
- Boston College (5): Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Megan Keller, Daryl Watts.
- Cornell (4): Laura Fortino, Rory Guilday, Brianne Jenner, Kristin O'Neill.
- Penn State (4): Jessica Adolfsson, Matilde Fantin, Nicole Hall, Tessa Janecke.
- Colgate (3): Kristýna Kaltounková, Noemi Neubauerová, Kayle Osborne.
- North Dakota (3): Michelle Karvinen, Emma Nuutinen, Susanna Tapani.
- Providence (3): Sandra Abstreiter, Sara Hjalmarsson, Noemi Neubauerová.
- St. Lawrence (3): Julia Gosling, Kristen Guerriero, Justine Reyes.
- Vermont (3): Sini Karjalainen, Julia Mesplède, Natálie Mlýnková.
- Dartmouth (2): Michaela Hesová, Laura Stacey.
- Harvard (2): Kristin Della Rovere, Emerance Maschmeyer.
- Lindenwood (2): Lucie Quarto, Élina Zilliox.
- Mercyhurst (2): Emma Nuutinen, Julia Schalin.
- Princeton (2): Sarah Fillier, Claire Thompson.
- Quinnipiac (2): Jade Barbirati, Kati Tabin.
- Rensselaer (2): Nina Christof, Andrea Trnková.
- St. Thomas (Minnesota) (2): Saskia Maurer, Nicole Vallario.
- Brown: Jacqueline Pierri.
- Franklin Pierce: Anna Caumo.
- Holy Cross: Naemi Herzig.
- Long Island University: Tindra Holm.
- Merrimack: Dominika Lásková.
- Norwich: Sophie Leclerc.
- Sacred Heart: Amie Fielding Varano.
- Syracuse: Akane Hosoyamada.
- Trinity (Connecticut): Marta Mazzocchi.
- Union (New York): Monja Wagner.
- Wesleyan (Connecticut): Rei Halloran.
Global impact
NCAA women's ice hockey Olympians will compete for 10 national teams.
- United States (23): Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Britta Curl-Salemme, Joy Dunne, Laila Edwards, Aerin Frankel, Rory Guilday, Caroline Harvey, Taylor Heise, Tessa Janecke, Megan Keller, Hilary Knight, Ava McNaughton, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Gwyneth Philips, Hayley Scamurra, Kirsten Simms, Lee Stecklein, Haley Winn, Grace Zumwinkle.
- Canada (23): Erin Ambrose, Emily Clark, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Renata Fast, Sarah Fillier, Jenn Gardiner, Julia Gosling, Sophie Jaques, Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque, Emma Maltais, Emerance Maschmeyer, Sarah Nurse, Kristin O'Neill, Kayle Osborne, Marie-Philip Poulin, Ella Shelton, Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey, Kati Tabin, Claire Thompson, Blayre Turnbull, Daryl Watts.
- Czech Republic (14): Michaela Hesová, Klára Hymlárová, Kristýna Kaltounková, Denisa Krížová, Dominika Lásková, Natálie Mlýnková, Katerina Mrázová, Noemi Neubauerová, Michaela Pejzlová, Tereza Plosová, Vendula Pribylová, Adéla Šapovalivová, Andrea Trnková, Tereza Vanišová.
- Sweden (13): Jessica Adolfsson, Josefin Bouveng, Nicole Hall, Sara Hjalmarsson, Tindra Holm, Lisa Johansson, Thea Johansson, Mira Jungåker, Ida Karlsson, Sofie Lundin, Jenna Raunio, Emma Söderberg, Hilda Svensson.
- Finland (12): Sanni Ahola, Sini Karjalainen, Michelle Karvinen, Ida Kuoppala, Emilia Kyrkkö, Nelli Laitinen, Emma Nuutinen, Jenniina Nylund, Julia Schalin, Susanna Tapani, Sanni Vanhanen, Sirri Yrjölä.
- Italy (11): Anna Caumo, Kristin Della Rovere, Matilde Fantin, Amie Fielding Varano, Laura Fortino, Kristen Guerriero, Nadia Mattivi, Marta Mazzocchi, Jacqueline Pierri, Justine Reyes, Kayla Tutino.
- Switzerland (10): Alessia Baechler, Andrea Brändli, Rahel Enzler, Naemi Herzig, Saskia Maurer, Alina Müller, Lara Stalder, Nicole Vallario, Monja Wagner, Laura Zimmermann.
- France (7): Chloé Aurard-Bushee, Jade Barbirati, Manon le Scodan, Sophie Leclerc, Julia Mesplède, Lucie Quarto, Élina Zilliox.
- Germany (7): Sandra Abstreiter, Nina Christof, Katarina "Nina" Jobst-Smith, Laura Kluge, Svenja Voight, Lilli Welcke, Luisa Welcke.
- Japan (2): Rei Halloran, Akane Hosoyamada.
NCAA champions seeking Olympic glory
There are 20 NCAA champions who will be seeking Olympic gold, with over 20 athletes bringing formidable Frozen Four experience to this year's Games.
- Three NCAA championships: Britta Curl-Salemme (Wisconsin), Lee Stecklein (Minnesota).
- Two NCAA championships: Laila Edwards (Wisconsin), Jenn Gardiner (Ohio State), Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin), Hilary Knight (Wisconsin), Jocelyne Larocque (Minnesota Duluth), Kelly Pannek (Minnesota), Michaela Pejzlová (Clarkson), Ella Shelton (Clarkson), Kirsten Simms (Wisconsin).
- One NCAA championship: Erin Ambrose (Clarkson), Cayla Barnes (Ohio State), Hannah Bilka (Ohio State), Andrea Brändli (Ohio State), Emily Clark (Wisconsin), Joy Dunne (Ohio State), Renata Fast (Clarkson), Sophie Jaques (Ohio State), Sophie Leclerc (Norwich), Ava McNaughton (Wisconsin), Daryl Watts (Wisconsin).
Major award winners and record holders
This Olympics features some of the most decorated players in NCAA women's ice hockey history, with several holding top all-time records and earning national awards.
(Note: Records listed below are only the No.1 all-time National Collegiate records, including ties.)
Game records
- Hilary Knight (Wisconsin): power-play goals — 3 (tied for No.1, Feb. 2, 2008, vs. North Dakota).
- Ida Kuoppala (Maine): short-handed goals — 2 (tied for No.1, Oct. 28, 2023, vs. Boston U.)
- Blayre Turnbull (Wisconsin): power-play goals — 3 (tied for No.1, Feb. 7, 2015, vs. Minnesota Duluth); short-handed goals — 2 (tied for No.1, Feb. 21, 2014, vs. Minnesota State Mankato)
- Daryl Watts (Boston College): short-handed goals — 2 (tied for No.1 all-time, Jan. 5, 2018, vs. New Hampshire).
Single-season records
- Aerin Frankel (Northeastern): save percentage — 96.5% (2021).
- Ann-Renée Desbiens (Wisconsin): goals against average — 0.71 (2017); goalie shutouts — 21 (2016).
Career leaders
- Gwyneth Philips (Northeastern, 2020-24): save percentage (minimum of 1,000 saves) — 95.8%; goals against average (minimum 2,000 minutes) — 0.96.
- Ann-Renée Desbiens (Wisconsin, 2014-17): goalie shutouts — 55.
- Ava McNaughton (Wisconsin, 2024-25): goalie winning percentage (minimum 30 wins) — 91.9%.
National Collegiate tournament record holders
- Hilary Knight (Wisconsin): career points — 22 (2008-12); points in a single year — 12 (tied for No.1, 2009); goals in a single year — 5 (tied for No.1, 2009).
- Renata Fast (Clarkson): fastest game-opening goal — 10 vs. Quinnipiac (March 12, 2016).
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award — National Player of the Year
- Alex Carpenter: Boston College (2015).
- Kendall Coyne Schofield: Northeastern (2016).
- Ann-Renée Desbiens: Wisconsin (2017).
- Daryl Watts: Boston College (2018).
- Aerin Frankel: Northeastern (2021).
- Taylor Heise: Minnesota (2022).
- Sophie Jaques: Ohio State (2023).
Julie Chu Rookie of the Year
- Daryl Watts: Boston College (2018).
- Sarah Fillier: Princeton (2019).
- Hannah Bilka: Boston College (2020).
- Tessa Janecke: Penn State (2023).
- Joy Dunne: Ohio State (2024).
Women's National Goalie of the Year
- Aerin Frankel: Northeastern (2021, 2022).
- Gwyneth Philips: Northeastern (2023).
- Ava McNaughton: Wisconsin (2025).
A 'Heated Rivalry': Team USA vs. Team Canada
The rosters for Team USA and Team Canada are 100% made up of NCAA student-athletes. All 46 Olympians have been shaped by the college game and forged in Frozen Four pressure.
Team USA's roster has 16 athletes who are NCAA alums. Seven on the roster are current NCAA student-athletes — Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Ava McNaughton, Kirsten Simms, Abbey Murphy, Joy Dunne and Tessa Janecke. These Olympians hail from eight storied programs with a total of 11 national champions. The roster holds four Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners, three Julie Chu National Rookie of the Year honorees, and all three goalies have won the National Goalie of the Year award.
Team Canada is also steeped in NCAA championship pedigree and brings a wealth of professional experience, as well. This roster boasts eight NCAA champions, including three athletes who have multiple titles — Ella Shelton (Clarkson), Jenn Gardiner (Ohio State) and Jocelyne Larocque (Minnesota Duluth). Canada's collegiate award winners include Patty Kazmaier selections Ann-Renée Desbiens (Wisconsin), Daryl Watts (Boston College) and Sophie Jaques (Ohio State). Watts also was a Julie Chu Rookie of the Year winner, and Canada's Sarah Fillier (Princeton) earned the rookie award, as well.
These two teams will meet Feb. 10, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Team USA is seeking its first gold since 2018, and Team Canada will look to defend the crown it reclaimed in 2022. These Olympic rosters have already clashed for NCAA titles, earned the highest collegiate awards and hoisted championship hardware.
With NCAA legends stacked on both sides of the red line, you can almost hear the iconic line from the hockey-based TV drama "Heated Rivalry" ring out before the puck is dropped — "I apologize in advance for tonight. We're going to destroy you guys."
How to watch
Follow Team USA's journey throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics through NBCUniversal's coverage. Every event will also be livestreamed and available on demand on Peacock. Daily broadcast schedules are available at nbcolympics.com/schedule.
