Hilary Knight to Lead Rebuilt U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Into Fifth Olympics With Gold in Sight

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

Hilary Knight will step onto the Olympic ice for a fifth time next month, carrying both the weight of history and the expectations of a younger, faster United States women’s hockey team widely viewed as a favorite for gold at the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

USA Hockey released its 23-player Olympic women’s roster on Friday, with the 36-year-old Knight headlining a group that reflects a significant generational shift. Just 11 players return from the team that captured silver at the 2022 Beijing Games, as the program embraces new faces and speed under head coach John Wroblewski.

Among the most notable newcomers is Laila Edwards, a 21-year-old defender from Cleveland who is completing her senior season at the University of Wisconsin. Edwards will make history in Italy as the first Black female hockey player to represent the United States at the Olympics, a milestone she described as both overwhelming and deeply meaningful.

“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet,” Edwards said after receiving the call. “Getting that call is a dream come true. I’ve always dreamed of playing professionally, but the biggest dream was going to the Olympics.”

For Knight, the Games will mark the end of an era. The Seattle Torrent captain is set to become the most decorated Olympic participant in U.S. women’s hockey history, appearing in more Winter Games than any American woman before her. She won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and earned silver medals in three other appearances. Knight has said these will be her final Olympics, though she plans to continue her professional career in the PWHL.

The roster blends veteran leadership with emerging talent. Kendall Coyne Schofield and defender Lee Stecklein are both headed to their fourth Olympics, providing experience and stability. Other familiar faces include forwards Alex Carpenter and Kelly Pannek, along with defenders Megan Keller and Caroline Harvey, who at 23 is completing her senior season at Wisconsin and already carries significant international experience.

The overhaul of the roster reflects Wroblewski’s vision since taking over the program in June 2022. He prioritized a youth movement after the Americans leaned heavily on veterans in Beijing, where they finished 5-2 and fell twice to Canada, appearing a step behind their longtime rivals in key moments.

This year’s team includes seven players currently competing at the college level, signaling a clear shift toward speed and development. Ohio State forward Joy Dunne, just 20 years old, is the youngest player on the roster. The goaltending group is also entirely new to the Olympic stage, with Aerin Frankel expected to start, backed by Gwyneth Philips and Ava McNaughton, all making their Olympic debuts.

Signs of progress under Wroblewski have been evident in recent months. In the most recent Rivalry Series, the Americans swept all four games against Canada, outscoring their rivals by a combined 24-7. The U.S. also enters the Olympics as the reigning world champion after defeating Canada 4-3 in overtime in April, further strengthening its case as the team to beat.

The Americans will open Olympic play against the Czech Republic on Feb. 5, with the gold-medal game scheduled for Feb. 19. The U.S. is aiming for its third Olympic gold medal and its first since the dramatic victory over Canada at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. The Americans also won the inaugural women’s hockey tournament at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, while Canada has claimed gold at the other five Games.

These will be the first Olympics held since the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League in 2024. The now eight-team league is expected to have a lasting impact on the international game by raising standards of play and narrowing the gap between the dominant powers and emerging nations. Sixteen players on the U.S. roster currently compete in the PWHL, underscoring the league’s growing influence.

With a blend of proven stars, rising young talent and renewed confidence against their biggest rival, the United States arrives in Milan Cortina believing it has the depth, speed and experience to reclaim the top step of the Olympic podium.