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NCAA Women's Hockey - MICO Breakdown

Media Center Asha Evans

From quarterfinals to gold, NCAA talent defines Milan Cortina women’s hockey

NCAA players scored 73.0% of tournament goals and 89.7% of playoff goals as Team USA won gold

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are in the books, and women's ice hockey finished the way it looked all tournament: with the NCAA at the center of the story.

By the end of the tournament, NCAA athletes accounted for 92 of 126 goals (73%), and that influence only intensified in the playoffs, where NCAA-connected players scored 26 of 29 goals (90%) — a reminder that the college game isn't just developing talent, it's deciding outcomes on the sport's biggest stage.

NCAA impact, from quarterfinals to medals

The bracket field underscored what pool play suggested all along. The quarterfinalists — United States, Canada, Switzerland, Czechia and Finland out of Group A, plus Sweden, Italy and Germany out of Group B — featured 113 NCAA current or former student-athletes across 184 roster spots (61%), and the medal round only amplified how much college hockey is shaping the international game.

At a glance

  • NCAA athletes scored 92 of 126 goals (73%) in the tournament.

  • NCAA athletes scored 26 of 29 playoff goals (90%).

  • Eight quarterfinalists featured 113 NCAA athletes across 184 roster spots (61%).

Lead goal scorers

Tournament lead goal scorers (4 goals):

  • Thea Johansson (Sweden).

  • Hannah Bilka (United States).

  • Alina Müller (Switzerland).

Playoff lead goal scorers (3 goals):

  • Kendall Coyne Schofield (United States).

Tournament MVP and All-Star Team highlight NCAA impact

Caroline "KK" Harvey of Wisconsin was named the tournament MVP after anchoring Team USA's gold-medal run while logging major minutes on the blue line.

The tournament All-Star Team was entirely composed of players with NCAA experience:

  • Andrea Brändli, G (Switzerland).

  • Caroline Harvey, D (United States).

  • Laila Edwards, D (United States).

  • Hannah Bilka, F (United States).

  • Marie-Philip Poulin, F (Canada).

  • Alina Müller, F (Switzerland).

Two of those selections — Harvey and Edwards — are current NCAA student-athletes who will return to campus this spring as Olympic gold medalists and recognized as two of the best players in the world.

From MVP honors to All-Star recognition, the tournament's top individual awards once again traced back to NCAA programs.

A 'Heated Rivalry': Team USA vs. Team Canada 

The gold medal game was an NCAA showcase from the opening faceoff. Team USA and Team Canada both arrived in Milan Cortina with rosters that were 100% built by college hockey, with all 46 Olympians carrying NCAA ties shaped by Frozen Four pressure.

Team USA blended proven NCAA stars with current college standouts, including Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Ava McNaughton, Kirsten Simms, Abbey Murphy, Joy Dunne and Tessa Janecke. The roster also featured multiple Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners and Julie Chu National Rookie of the Year honorees, plus a goaltending group with National Goalie of the Year credentials.

Canada brought its own NCAA pedigree, including champions and major award winners across the lineup. From Clarkson to Ohio State to Wisconsin, the silver-medal roster reflected the same college pipeline that's powered this rivalry for years.

Related: Team USA vs. Canada women's hockey at Milan Cortina 2026 is an NCAA showcase. 

Current NCAA student-athletes returning to campus with medals

Several Olympic medalists will head back to campus this spring with hardware in hand and NCAA title hopes still alive.

United States — Gold (current NCAA student-athletes)

  • Laila Edwards, Wisconsin.

  • Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin.

  • Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin.

  • Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin.

  • Abbey Murphy, Minnesota.

  • Joy Dunne, Ohio State.

  • Tessa Janecke, Penn State.

Switzerland — Bronze (current NCAA student-athletes)

  • Alessia Baechler, Northeastern.

  • Naemi Herzig, Holy Cross.

  • Monja Wagner, Union (New York).

  • Laura Zimmermann, St. Cloud State.

The Olympics may be over, but the NCAA postseason is still ahead, with medalists skating back into college locker rooms and conference races.

Full NCAA Olympic women's ice hockey breakdown

Across all national team rosters, 53% of all women's ice hockey Olympians (122 of 230) brought NCAA experience (see full NCAA Olympic dashboard), with Team USA being made up of 100% current or former student-athletes. Here's a closer look at the NCAA makeup of the entire 2026 Olympic women's hockey field.

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 reflected 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 were 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). 

Related: Inside the Wisconsin women's ice hockey Olympic pipeline.

School representation

There were 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. 

Related: How Caroline 'KK' Harvey juggled Wisconsin ice hockey and Team USA before Milan Cortina Olympics.

Global impact

NCAA women's ice hockey Olympians competed 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.

Quarterfinalists: NCAA connections by country (pool-play rosters)

  • United States: 23 of 23 (100%) NCAA.
  • Canada: 23 of 23 (100%) NCAA.
  • Czechia: 14 of 23 (61%) NCAA.
  • Sweden: 13 of 23 (57%) NCAA.
  • Finland: 12 of 23 (52%) NCAA.
  • Italy: 11 of 23 (48%) NCAA.
  • Switzerland: 10 of 23 (43%) NCAA.
  • Germany: 7 of 23 (30%) NCAA.

NCAA champions  

There were 20 NCAA champions competing for Olympic gold, with over 20 athletes bringing formidable Frozen Four experience to the 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 featured 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). 

Find more Olympic coverage

Relive the biggest moments from Milan Cortina 2026 through NBCUniversal's coverage. Full replays and highlights are available on Peacock, with additional schedules and coverage at nbcolympics.com/schedule. 

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