Team USA unveils roster for upcoming women's Worlds
Team USA unveiled the 25-player roster it will be bringing to the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship on Wednesday.
The Americans will be looking to avenge their loss to Canada in the gold-medal game at last year's tournament. The Canadians have won three of the last four Worlds, as well as the last three Rivalry Series.
The 2025 Women's World Championship will be hosted by Ceske Budejovice in Czechia from April 9-20.
Forwards
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Alex Carpenter | New York |
| Jesse Compher | Toronto |
| Kendall Coyne Schofield | Minnesota |
| Britta Curl-Salemme | Minnesota |
| Joy Dunne | Ohio State (NCAA) |
| Lacey Eden | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| Taylor Heise | Minnesota |
| Tessa Janecke | Penn State (NCAA) |
| Hilary Knight | Boston |
| Abbey Murphy | Minnesota (NCAA) |
| Kelly Pannek | Minnesota |
| Hayley Scamurra | Toronto |
| Kirsten Simms | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| Grace Zumwinkle | Minnesota |
The United States' forward group is once again led by Knight, who is the all-time leader at the Worlds in goals (65) and points (111) in 80 career appearances at the event. She's also enjoying a strong sophomore PWHL season with 17 points in 20 outings. Coyne Schofield, meanwhile, has been similarly productive this season with 18 points in 21 games.
Returning to the mix is Compher, who hasn't been on the Worlds roster since 2022. Zumwinkle - the PWHL's inaugural Rookie of the Year - was on last year's team but didn't see any game action.
Missing from the group is Hannah Bilka, who is sidelined by a lower-body injury sustained during the Rivalry Series in February.
Defenders
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Cayla Barnes | Montreal |
| Laila Edwards | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| Savannah Harmon | Toronto |
| Caroline Harvey | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| Megan Keller | Boston |
| Lee Stecklein | Minnesota |
| Anna Wilgren | Montreal |
| Haley Winn | Clarkson (NCAA) |
The most interesting part of the United States' back end is Edwards. She participated at the 2024 Worlds as a forward and was named tournament MVP after potting six goals and two assists in seven games. She leads the NCAA this season with 30 goals as a winger but has been used as a defender for Wisconsin at times and provides size on the blue line with a 6-foot-1 frame.
Stecklein is making her return after skipping last year's tournament to focus on her PWHL career. The decision paid off for the 30-year-old, as she helped Minnesota lift the inaugural Walter Cup. She has won eight medals at the Worlds, including six golds.
Keller, meanwhile, was a finalist for the PWHL's Defender of the Year last season and currently ranks fourth among all rearguards this campaign with 12 points in 20 games.
Goaltenders
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Aerin Frankel | Boston |
| Ava McNaughton | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| Gwyneth Philips | Ottawa |
Frankel figures to lead the way in Czechia. She's been outstanding for Boston this season, recording 10 wins, a .931 save percentage, and a 1.95 goals against average in 16 games.
But this time around she won't be joined by Nicole Hensley, who's struggling this season with an .866 clip in six outings for Minnesota. Her absence opens the door for McNaughton, who has posted a .949 save percentage in 34 games for Wisconsin.