This year’s roster is arguably Team USA’s best since the 2023 world championship, which the U.S. won 6-3 against Canada, with an elite veteran core and highly skilled young players.
The experience starts with Hilary Knight, the all-time leading scorer in tournament history. After dealing with an injury last season — and still leading Team USA in scoring at last year’s tournament — Knight is healthy and leading the PWHL in scoring. Alex Carpenter was tied for the scoring lead last year with six goals and 10 points in seven games, and Kendall Coyne Schofield is among the top scorers in the PWHL.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the roster, though, is the return of Lee Stecklein, who has taken the last two years off from the U.S. women’s national team. She’s one of the very best shutdown defenders in the world, and her return should help bolster a U.S. team that has lost to Canada in the last Rivalry Series and world championship.
Team USA also has some of the most exciting young players in the world, including seven top-10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the best player in women’s college hockey: forwards Abbey Murphy, Joy Dunne, Tessa Janecke and Kirsten Simms, and defenders Caroline Harvey, Haley Winn and Laila Edwards.