Team USA Women’s Hockey Enters Milan-Cortina as Tournament Favorites
The US women’s hockey team has arrived in Milan-Cortina as the top seed in Group A, positioned to compete for Olympic gold after a dominant performance that included sweeping Canada in the 2025 Rivalry Series in four straight games.[1] Led by captain Hilary Knight, the 23-player roster represents the first major Olympic competition under a historic new era for women’s professional hockey.
Knight, competing in her fifth and final Olympic Games, brings unmatched experience to Team USA women’s hockey. The 36-year-old from Sun Valley, Idaho, holds all three scoring milestone records in Women’s Hockey World Championships history, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.[1] Despite the team’s favored status, Knight maintains a grounded perspective heading into the tournament. “I always feel like we’re the underdogs in everything,” she told *The Athletic* in December.[1]
Historic PWHL Representation
The USA women’s hockey roster reflects a watershed moment for the sport. Sixteen of the 23 players compete in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which launched in 2024.[1] This marks the first Olympic Games since the league’s establishment, giving elite female athletes a professional platform previously unavailable.
Head coach John Wroblewski assembled a balanced squad combining veteran leadership with emerging talent.[2] The roster includes standout performers like Kendall Coyne Schofield, the first woman to compete in an NHL All-Star skills competition, and Laila Edwards, the first Black woman to represent the U.S. at the senior level.[1]
Tournament Format and Competition
The women’s hockey USA tournament runs throughout the Games, with the U.S. competing in Group A alongside Canada, Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland.[4] The team USA women’s hockey enters with momentum from their sweep of Canada but faces a familiar rival in the medal rounds—the same team that defeated the U.S. 3-2 for gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.[4]
Several players carry individual accolades into the competition. Ava McNaughton, the 21-year-old goaltender from the University of Wisconsin, trained under Mark Johnson, a member of the legendary 1980 men’s hockey “Miracle on Ice” squad.[1] Kirsten Simms scored the game-winning goal in Wisconsin’s 2025 NCAA national championship victory.[1]
Building on Recent Success
While the US women’s hockey team roster has established itself as a global powerhouse, redemption remains a driving force. The 2022 silver medal loss in Beijing remains fresh, and this Milan-Cortina Olympics represents an opportunity for the program to reclaim the top spot on the podium. With Knight’s leadership, Wroblewski’s coaching expertise, and a roster combining professional experience with collegiate talent, womens hockey USA enters the competition with legitimate championship aspirations.
