Best PWHL Players in the Olympics

As the quarterfinal round of women’s hockey at the Olympics begins, there are some players who play in the PWHL who you should keep an eye out for.

Hilary Knight - USA/Seattle Torrent

Knight has been the poster child for women's hockey in the United States for years now as she plays in her fifth Olympics. These games will put her above any other American man or woman in Olympic appearances.

The 36-year-old forward nicknamed “Captain America” already has three silvers and one gold, but this year, the United States seems to be the team to beat.

As captain of this very young United States team, Knight has the opportunity to be what hockey greats Jenny Potter and Julie Chu were to her in her first two Olympics to players like Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards.

Knight has already cemented herself as one of the all-time greats of women’s hockey, but another gold medal would put her solidly in the top 5.

Marie-Philip Poulin - Canada/Montréal Victoire

The GOAT, “Captain Clutch” and the three-time Olympic captain of a dominant Team Canada, Marie-Philip Poulin, is already considered by many to be the greatest female hockey player of all time.

In her first Olympics in 2010, Poulin scored two goals against the United States in the Gold medal match to win it for Canada. In 2014, she scored Canada’s only goals in the final. In 2022, she scored the game-winning goal against the United States again in the final.

When it comes to Olympic hockey dominance, few can compete with her three gold medals and one silver.

This Olympics, however, Poulin got injured after getting checked into the boards by Czechia's Kristýna Kaltounková. Poulin has not played since the hit and had to watch Canada’s first-ever shutout loss to the United States on Tuesday.

Heading into the quarter-final round tomorrow, whether or not Poulin plays could be a serious blow for the Canadian team, who lack direction without her on the ice..

Alex Carpenter - USA/Seattle Torrent

Alex Carpenter has scored the second-most points for the United States so far this Olympics. The Seattle Torrent forward is playing in her third Olympics and is seeking her second gold medal to add to her two silvers.

Carpenter has been a top contributor to the United States women's hockey team for the last thirteen years and has now become a senior member responsible for mentoring younger players.

On her line with Seattle Torrent teammates Hannah Bilka and Hilary Knight, Carpenter has been in a top position to score for the United States and fight for a gold medal.

Alina Müller - Switzerland/Boston Fleet

Being on a team that no one expects to bring home gold can be a tough spot in the Olympics, but in the back-and-forth battle between the United States and Canada, the bronze medal is wide open, and Alina Müller could be a key player in Switzerland’s medal hopes.

In 2014, she became the youngest hockey player to ever win a medal with Switzerland's bronze medal performance at 15.

In 2018, Müller tied the record for most goals scored in a single Olympic hockey game with four goals.

Switzerland is set to match up against Finland in the quarterfinals. They are not favored, but if Müller can rally her team, Switzerland could be one of the favorites to win a medal.

Ann-Renée Desbiens - Canada/ Montréal Victoire

Widely considered to be the best goaltender in this Olympic cycle, Desbiens is playing in her third Olympics for Team Canada.

Desbiens had been a force on the ice for years before the PWHL came into the picture. In 2007, she became the first woman to be drafted to the second-highest men's junior league in Québec.

Later, she played at the University of Wisconsin and led them to four Frozen Four appearances. In 2023, she became part of the inaugural PWHL Montreal team and was one of their three players to be protected in the expansion draft.

In 2025, she was named the PWHL’s Goaltender of the Year and was named to the First All-Star team. This Olympics, she looks to add another medal to her already existing silver and gold from the last two games.

Gwen Evans is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email her at gme5218@psu.edu.