The U.S. women’s national hockey team has announced a transformed roster for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, making a significant shift with 12 changes from the squad that competed in the 2022 Beijing Games. Led by veteran forward Hilary Knight, who is set for her fifth Olympic appearance, the team aims to secure gold after winning silver in Beijing.
The roster, released by USA Hockey on Friday, features 23 players, of whom only 11 were part of the previous Olympic team. Notably, defender Laila Edwards is poised to make history as the first Black female hockey player to represent the U.S. at the Olympics. “Getting that call is like a dream come true,” said Edwards, a senior at Wisconsin. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go to the Olympics for sure.”
Young Talent and Veteran Leadership
Knight’s inclusion in the lineup will see her break the record for most Winter Games appearances by a U.S. women’s hockey player. The 36-year-old has previously secured gold in 2018 and three silver medals. She has indicated that these will be her final Winter Games, although she intends to continue her career in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
The team retains familiar faces such as Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein, both competing in their fourth Olympics. Other returning players include forwards Alex Carpenter and Kelly Pannek, alongside defenders Megan Keller and Caroline Harvey. Harvey, at the age of 23, is completing her senior season at Wisconsin.
The roster reflects a strategic shift under the guidance of coach John Wroblewski, who emphasized a youth movement upon his hiring in June 2022. This year’s team includes seven players still engaged in college hockey, with Joy Dunne, a forward from Ohio State, being the youngest at just 20 years old. The goaltending lineup also represents a fresh start, with Aerin Frankel as the projected starter, supported by Gwyneth Philips and Ava McNaughton, both making their Olympic debuts.
Recent Performance and Olympic Aspirations
Wroblewski’s influence on the roster was evident during the recent Rivalry Series, where the U.S. team swept Canada in all four games, outscoring them 24-7. The Americans are also the defending world champions, having clinched victory in April with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against Canada.
The U.S. women’s hockey team opens their Olympic campaign against the Czech Republic on February 5, 2024, with the gold-medal game scheduled for February 19, 2024. The team is favored to win its third Olympic gold medal, aiming for its first title since triumphing over Canada at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. The U.S. previously secured gold in the inaugural Olympic tournament held in Nagano in 1998, while Canada has claimed victory in five other competitions.
This Olympics marks the first since the establishment of the PWHL in 2024, a league expected to enhance the standard of international competition, particularly for nations striving to catch up with the dominant forces of the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. roster includes 16 players from the PWHL, highlighting the league’s growing influence on the sport.
