Did you know there are 40 women's ice hockey Olympians who are current NCAA student-athletes? These athletes make up 33% of women's ice hockey Olympians with NCAA experience.
While other Olympians are fully focused on the world stage, these 40 women have been on campus, playing in over 20 college games and taking classes. Now, they are pausing their season to compete with their home countries.
After the Olympics wrap, they will return to campus. Soon after, they will compete in their conference tournaments. Just three weeks after the gold-medal game in the Olympics, the National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship begins.
(Full NCAA women's ice hockey breakdown at Milan Cortina.)
Let's meet these 40 athletes and learn the 20 schools and eight countries they represent:
United States (7) (Full Team USA breakdown)
- Joy Dunne, Ohio State.
- Laila Edwards, Wisconsin.
- Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin.
- Tessa Janecke, Penn State.
- Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin.
- Abbey Murphy, Minnesota.
- Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin.
Sweden (8)
- Josefin Bouveng, Minnesota.
- Nicole Hall, Penn State.
- Lisa Johansson, Northeastern.
- Thea Johansson, Minnesota Duluth.
- Mira Jungåker, Ohio State.
- Ida Karlsson, Minnesota Duluth.
- Jenna Raunio, Ohio State.
- Hilda Svensson, Ohio State.
Finland (5)
- Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State.
- Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota
- Julia Schalin, Mercyhurst.
- Sanni Vanhanen, Ohio State.
- Siiri Yrjölä, St. Cloud State.
France (5)
- Jade Barbirati, Quinnipiac.
- Manon le Scodan, Clarkson.
- Julia Mesplède, Vermont.
- Lucie Quarto, Lindenwood.
- Élina Zilliox, Lindenwood.
Czechia (4)
- Michaela Hesová, Dartmouth.
- Tereza Plosová, Minnesota.
- Adéla Šapovalivová, Wisconsin.
- Andrea Trnková, Clarkson.
Germany (4)
- Nina Christof, Rensselaer.
- Svenja Voight, St. Cloud State.
- Lilli Welcke, Boston U.
- Luisa Welcke, Boston U.
Switzerland (4)
- Alessia Baechler, Northeastern.
- Naemi Herzig, Holy Cross.
- Monja Wagner, Union (New York).
- Laura Zimmermann, St. Cloud State.
Italy (3)
- Anna Caumo, Franklin Pierce.
- Matilde Fantin, Penn State.
- Marta Mazzocchi, Trinity (Connecticut).
How many of these current hockey players have earned an NCAA title?
These athletes boast a total of eight NCAA titles.
- Laila Edwards (Wisconsin): 2.
- Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin): 2.
- Kirsten Simms (Wisconsin): 2.
- Joy Dunne (Ohio State): 1.
- Ava McNaughton (Wisconsin): 1.
How many current women's hockey players are competing in their second Olympics?
It is the first Olympic Games for every athlete besides these six athletes competing in their second Olympic Games:
- Josefin Bouveng (Sweden, Minnesota).
- Caroline Harvey (United States, Wisconsin).
- Nelli Laitinen (Finland, Minnesota).
- Abbey Murphy (United States, Minnesota).
- Sanni Vanhanan (Finland, Ohio State).
- Laura Zimmermann (Switzerland, St. Cloud State).
What is their schedule like balancing college and the Olympics?
The Olympic gold medal game is Feb. 19. Players will return from Italy and compete in their conference tournaments beginning Feb. 25 through early March. The NCAA tournament begins March 12, with the championship game occurring March 22.
What conferences do these athletes represent?
Current student-athletes are competing across 12 NCAA primary conferences:
- America East Conference.
- Big Ten Conference.
- Coastal Athletic Association.
- Liberty League.
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
- New England Small College Athletic Conference.
- Northeast Conference.
- Northeast 10 Conference.
- Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
- Ohio Valley Conference.
- Patriot League.
- The Ivy League.
Five sport-specific conferences are represented within the women's Olympic ice hockey rosters:
- Atlantic Hockey America (Women's).
- Eastern College Athletic Conference.
- Hockey East Association.
- New England Women's Hockey Alliance.
- Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
How to watch
Follow women's hockey action in 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.
