<p>Time is ticking before the quadrennial sporting extravaganza, as athletes from around the world will be heading to Italy this February for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with the women’s hockey tournament set to be one of the must-see attractions once again.</p>



<p>While there’s always intrigue about how some of the smaller countries will perform in Milan and Cortina, the gold medal will most likely come down to the United States and Canada once again. Other than 2006, the last time the Winter Games were held in Italy, the North American rivals have met in every Olympic championship game.</p>



<p>The U.S. might be the most recent IIHF Women’s World Champions, but they are trying to erase the disappointment of losing to Canada at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, ending a bid at a second straight gold medal. While the Americans won Olympic gold first in 1998 and 20 years later in PyeongChang, the aging core knows its time is limited.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="159"></div>



<p>With that, let’s take a look at an early projection of those who will wear the red, white and blue in February.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Forwards</h2>



<p>Tessa Janecke (2026) – Alex Carpenter (SEA) – Hilary Knight (SEA)<br>Laila Edwards (2026) – Casey O’Brien (NY) – Kirsten Simms (2026)<br>Kendall Coyne Schofield (MIN) – Kelly Pannek (MIN) – Abbey Murphy (2026)<br>Hayley Scamurra (MTL) – Taylor Heise (MIN) – Lacey Eden (2026)<br>Britta Curl (MIN), Joy Dunne (2027)</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Grace Zumwinkle (MIN), Shiann Darkangelo (MTL)</em></p>



<p>There’s a little bit of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” vibe with this forward group. That top line of Janecke, Carpenter and Knight worked so well together in Czechia last spring. The trio finished as three of the top scorers on the team, combining for 23 points, with Janecke also scoring the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/usa-scores-in-ot-to-beat-canada-winning-gold-at-2025-womens-world-championship">golden goal against Canada</a>.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p>The other line that worked so well at the Women’s Worlds was the “Minnesota Line.” Frost teammates Pannek and Coyne Schofield, along with University of Minnesota star Murphy, were exhilarating to watch and nearly impossible to stop. Pannek was sensational, having her best performance on the international stage, while Coyne Schofield and Murphy produced on a high level.</p>



<p>I wasn’t a fan of Edwards playing defense this past spring. It felt like she was busy trying to figure out how to play her position, rather than showcase her ability as a dominant power forward as she did in the 2024 tournament in Utica, as well as the past couple of years at Wisconsin. I figured you put her <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/kirsten-simms-scores-game-winning-goal-wisconsin-beats-ohio-state-win-ncaa-womens-hockey-championship">with the dynamic Kirsten Simms</a>, whom she’s played with a lot in Madison, along with the reigning <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/wisconsins-casey-obrien-wins-2025-patty-kazmaier-award">Patty Kazmaier Award winner</a> <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/projecting-pwhl-2025-26-rookie-of-the-year-winner-kaltounkova-winn-obrien-buglioni">in O’Brien</a>. That line just screams offense, especially since the three scored a combined 231 points last season with the Badgers.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="160"></div>



<p>The fourth line isn’t a bad line by any stretch. Heise has the ability to play in any situation, while Scamurra and Eden can provide depth scoring and some energy to give the top lines a break. Joy Dunne was one of the extra forwards last year, but after a fantastic junior year at Ohio State, I wouldn’t be shocked to see her move up into the top 12 a few times this February.</p>



<p>Grace Zumwinkle has been a consistent figure on the national team for the past couple of years, and showed what she offers early in the first season of the PWHL. Yet, an underwhelming 2024-25 season with the Frost has her on the outside for me. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defense</h2>



<p>Megan Keller (BOS) – Hayley Winn (BOS)<br>Caroline Harvey (2026) – Cayla Barnes (SEA)<br>Lee Stecklein (MIN) – Savannah Harmon (TOR)<br>Jincy Roese (NY) – Anna Wilgren (MTL)</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="145"></div>



<p><em>Also considered: Sidney Morin (MIN), Kali Flanagan (TOR)</em></p>



<p>This might seem pretty boring, as seven of the eight names were on the American roster last April in Czechia. However, it led to a gold medal…so why change?</p>



<p>I did flip the pairings a little bit. I wouldn’t be shocked if new Boston Fleet head coach Kris Sparre experiments with Keller and the rookie Winn on the same pair, which could give U.S. head coach John Worblewski an idea for his top pair. I like the idea of Harvey and Barnes together for the purpose of a full-on offensive attack. Both have obviously shown they can play in their end, but their offensive upside would be entertaining to see on the biggest stage.</p>



<p>I think if Savannah Harmon finds a little more confidence this coming season with the Sceptres, she’ll be much more useful in Italy. Paired up with the veteran Stecklein, who can hang back and let Harmon do her thing up the ice…that’s not a bad third pair.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="169"></div>



<p>With Edwards moving back up to forward, that really opens up one spot on the back end. Roese brings past international experience to the table, and I think she earned a spot back on the U.S. roster with how good she was with the Ottawa Charge last season. It’s hard to remove Anna Wilgren after proving her value with the Montreal Victoire last year, but if Sidney Morin flourishes with the Frost, don’t be surprised if she sneaks on the roster.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goaltenders</h2>



<p>Aerin Frankel (BOS)<br>Gwyneth Philips (OTT)<br>Maddie Rooney (MIN)</p>



<p><em>Also considered: Ava McNaughton (2027), Annelies Bergmann (2027)</em></p>



<p>Maybe the most boring part of my lineup projections is between the pipes. Even with how things ended, with Philips playing the hero after Frankel got herself injured in the gold medal game, a 100% Green Monster is the best goaltender in women’s hockey, no question. Frankel almost dragged the Fleet into the playoffs last year, with her injury arguably costing them their season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="160"></div>



<p>That said, if Frankel were to ever falter, Philips is more than capable of taking the No. 1 role in stride. Her outstanding play in the PWHL Playoffs helped the Charge get to the final <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/ottawa-charge-gwyneth-philips-named-pwhl-ilana-kloss-playoff-mvp-walter-cup-minnesota-frost">and was named postseason MVP</a>. She’s a big-time goaltender who can carry a great team to the top of the podium.</p>



<p>I don’t want to go too deep into who should be the No. 3 for this team. My thought behind Rooney back on the roster (barring a disastrous start to the PWHL season) is that Rooney has much more experience with the senior national team, leading the Americans to Olympic gold in 2018.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/categories/pwhl">Read more women’s hockey stories at DFO</a></em></p>
