NCAA Stars Shine on the Global Stage

The Olympic tournament has wrapped and the NCAA stars are heading home as we head into WCHA Round 1. Here’s the biggest WCHA standouts from the Olympic tournament. 

Starting things off is Wisconsin senior Caroline Harvey who piled up the awards, bringing home tournament MVP, and Best Defender. She was also named to the All-Star Team, leading the tournament in points and assists with a +14. Harvey has continued to be a defensive standout heading into the 2026 PWHL draft, after her performance at the Olympics, this attention has only skyrocketed, leaving several speculating where she will end up. 

Joining her from Wisconsin is senior Laila Edwards who made history as the first Black player to represent the USA at the Olympics. In her debut Edwards had 2 goals and 6 assists showing her abilities on both ends of the ice. This marks a special moment in the game growing the representation within the sport for the next generation. 

From the Minnesota Golden Gophers, it was Abbey Murphy making a splash in the tournament. Known for her unique hockey plays, scoring ability, and physical presence, Murphy brought exactly what the USA needed. Throughout the tournament the dynamic between Murphy and Taylor Heise continued to be showcased. The pair played together at the University of Minnesota for two seasons before Heise graduated. The relationship and dynamic from this line has been electric leaving Minnesota fans, hoping for a PWHL reunion. 

For the University of Minnesota Duluth it was senior, Thea Johansson who had 4 goals in her Olympic debut with Sweden. Johansson has continued to fall under the radar in the WCHA with other big stars, but she shined on the global stage. Still, she seems to have fallen under the radar in Olympic conversations and draft rankings. This season in the NCAA she has 21 points in 26 games. One thing is for sure, she will continue to have an impact wherever she goes. 

From Ohio State it was freshman Hilda Svensson with 2 goals and 5 assists in her Olympic debut with Sweden. Svensson has continued to make waves in her rookie campaign with the Buckeyes, with 44 points in 26 games. She is going to be one to watch throughout her college career and the upcoming WCHA playoffs. 

This year’s Olympic tournament saw the rise of many young stars in the WCHA, showing the best of the next generation. This year’s PWHL draft is going to be stacked with the amount of talent expected to declare from the NCAA. 

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