It’s almost time for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championships! It feels odd to be prepping at this time of year for the international tournament, which used to be held annually in April. Today, it’s time for a look at Team USA.
The storyline
Team USA looks to defend its gold medal with a largely returning roster from 2025. Most of the players were also on the gold-medal winning Olympic team earlier this year. USA Hockey held two training camps, first in September in Minnesota and then in late October in Michigan. They also played two pre-tournament games against Canada.
There’s something to be said for consistency on an international roster. Team USA has plenty of returnees and a wealth of combined experience. It’ll suit them well this tournament, as they prepare to face a Canadian team with quite a different look and feel.
Team USA announced its final roster Saturday morning, following the games against Canada. Here’s what the final roster looks like:
- Goaltenders: Aerin Frankel*, Gwyneth Philips*, Callie Shanahan
- Defenders: Lee Stecklein*, Cayla Barnes*, Caroline Harvey*, Megan Keller*, Rory Guilday, Haley Winn*, Laila Edwards*, Emma Peschel
- Forwards: Lacey Eden*, Kirsten Simms*, Kelly Pannek*, Grace Zumwinkle*, Hayley Scamurra*, Jesse Compher*, Hilary Knight*, Tessa Janecke*, Hannah Bilka, Joy Dunne*, Alex Carpenter*, Taylor Fox*, Casey O’Brien, Abbey Murphy*
Players in italics also played at the 2026 Olympics. Those with an asterisk (*) represented Team USA at 2025 Worlds.
Kendall Coyne Schofield is out after she recently announced that she is pregnant with her second child. The other final cuts were Ava McNaughton, Sydney Morrow, Laney Potter, Sloane Matthews and Britta Curl-Salemme. McNaughton and Curl-Salemme were both on the Olympic team.
Like at the OIympics, Team USA is led by head coach John Wroblewski with assistants Josh Sciba and Shari Dickerman. New to the squad is Molly Engstrom as an assistant coach; she’s also an incoming assistant coach for PWHL Detroit.
Player to watch
It’s genuinely difficult to pick just one player to highlight, but it’s hard to ignore Caroline “KK” Harvey. What a banner year it’s been for the 24-year-old. At the beginning of the year, she won Olympic gold and a number of accolades. She had nine points, leading all players in points, and a tournament-best +14 plus/minus rating. She was named the Olympics’ best defender and most valuable player.
A few short months later, she won the NCAA championship as captain of the Wisconsin Badgers. She was also named IIHF Female Player of the Year. Next, Harvey became a member of the PWHL’s Vancouver Goldeneyes, drafted first overall. She signed a three-year deal with the team and makes her pro debut in December.
This will be her fifth Worlds tournament. Harvey just seems to be getting better and better, and she’ll undoubtedly make a mark at Worlds before heading into her first PWHL season.
What will success look like?
It’s gotta be gold. Team USA hasn’t won consecutive gold medals at Worlds since 2019. With an Olympic gold medal already in their back pocket from earlier this year, there’s no doubt this team wants victory again and a clean sweep. As it has for the last five years, the championship will likely come down to Canada vs. USA. Team USA has already showed its strengths and won’t settle for silver.
Group tsage schedule
- Nov. 6 vs. Switzerland, 7 PM local (1 PM ET)
- Nov. 8 vs. Germany, 3 PM local (9 AM ET)
- Nov. 9 vs. Austria, 7 PM local (1 PM ET)
- Nov. 11 vs. Czechia, 7 PM local (1 PM ET)
Full schedule available at iihf.com.
