Wisconsin’s presence will be strongly felt at the upcoming Winter Olympics, particularly in the realm of women’s hockey. The U.S. team boasts an impressive lineup that includes four current and two former University of Wisconsin Badgers, as well as a coach with roots in the Fox Valley.
Among the current Badgers chosen for the Olympic team are Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Ava McNaughton, and Kirsten Simms. Also contributing their talents are former Badgers Britta Curl-Salemme and Hilary Knight, as reported by University of Wisconsin-Madison Athletics.
With a total of six athletes, UW-Madison has more representatives on the team than any other university, marking the highest number of Badgers in the Olympics since 2010. Notably, Laila Edwards will make history as the first Black woman to join the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team.
John Wroblewski, who hails from Neenah, Wisconsin, will lead the team as head coach during the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy.
In addition to the players and coach, the team will benefit from the expertise of UW-Madison’s athletic trainer Stefanie Arndt and former Wisconsin director of operations/equipment manager Sis Paulsen, both of whom will serve in staff roles.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to commence on Feb. 4, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Feb. 6, and the games will conclude with the closing ceremony on Feb. 22.
