It feels like the women’s game is hitting a new gear every single week right now. As we get deeper into 2026, the international landscape is being totally reshaped by a mix of massive PWHL growth and the high-stakes pressure of an Olympic year. We’re watching legendary icons play the best hockey of their careers, while at the same time, a new crop of young stars is stepping up and making a name for themselves on the world stage. These are the players currently driving the sport forward.
The American Defensive Pillars: Caroline Harvey & Haley Winn
If you’re looking for the reason Team USA has been so stingy on defense, look no further than Caroline Harvey and Haley Winn. Harvey has successfully brought her collegiate dominance at Wisconsin to the world stage, showing why she’s arguably the most dangerous puck-moving defender in the game today. Meanwhile, Haley Winn is making a huge statement in her first Olympics, locking down the back end for the Americans just like she does for the Boston Fleet. Winn’s composure on the top pair has allowed Harvey the freedom to jump into the play, creating a “do-it-all” defensive unit that few teams have an answer for.
Czechia’s New Icon: Kristýna Kaltounková
Kristýna Kaltounková is a huge reason why international hockey feels so competitive right now. Following a record-setting college career, she arrived in the pro game with plenty of expectations as the Sirens’ first-overall pick in 2025. Now 23, she’s leading the New York attack and acting as the centerpiece of a Czech squad that’s legitimately threatening the traditional powers. Kaltounková is an elite finisher who can score from the toughest angles, and her physical style of play is forcing the rest of the world to take notice. As Czechia chases its first Olympic medal, she’s proven she can handle the spotlight.
The Canadian Standard & the Expansion Era: Sarah Nurse
It’s easy to focus on the youth movement, but Sarah Nurse remains the definitive bridge for Team Canada and the PWHL. As a leader for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, she’s proving daily that she’s still the gold standard for power forwards. Since her return in January, she’s been playing with a level of “veteran savvy” that’s been a game-changer for her new club. Off the ice, Nurse has become a symbol of the sport’s sophisticated commercial growth in 2026. As the face of hockey’s expansion into the West, Nurse represents the new reality of the sport: a world where elite on-ice performance is deeply connected to a massive digital economy. In 2026, the ‘fan experience’ extends far beyond the arena, with major digital brands—from streaming giants to the presence of an online casino in Canada—becoming part of the broader ecosystem that follows the league’s meteoric rise. For Nurse, being the standard-bearer means leading a sport that is now a top-tier commercial powerhouse.
The Brick Wall: Aerin Frankel
Between the pipes, Aerin Frankel has effectively locked down her reputation as the best goaltender in the world. Known to Boston fans as the “Green Monster,” Frankel’s composure is her greatest weapon. While the parity between the U.S. and Canada remains razor-thin, Frankel’s historic performance in the Olympic prelims, anchoring a 5–0 shutout against the Canadians, has sent shockwaves through the tournament. Her ability to remain calm during high-danger scrambles and track the puck through heavy screens has turned her into a nightmare for even the most seasoned Canadian shooters.
Looking Ahead
These players are essentially the vanguard of a whole new era. In 2026, we’re finally seeing what happens when you mix world-class skill with a real pro infrastructure. Since the PWHL gives these stars a high-intensity stage to sharpen their game year-round, the dominant performances we’re seeing in Milan aren’t just a lucky break or a one-off. They are setting the baseline for the next decade of hockey, a future where the talent pool is deeper, the skaters are faster, and the global fan base is finally matching the energy on the ice.
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