Five-time Olympian Hilary Knight has been appointed captain of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, marking a historic milestone as the first American hockey player to compete in five Winter Games. Alternate captains Alex Carpenter and Megan Keller, both in their third Olympics, will join her in leadership roles. The team begins its tournament against Czechia on February 5.
USA Hockey announced on February 2, 2026, that Hilary Knight, from Sun Valley, Idaho, and playing for the Seattle Torrent, will lead the U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Knight, a five-time Olympian, has captained the national team since the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship. This appointment underscores her enduring impact on the sport, as she becomes the first U.S. hockey player to participate in five Olympic Winter Games.
Supporting Knight are alternate captains forward Alex Carpenter, from North Reading, Massachusetts, and also with the Seattle Torrent, and defender Megan Keller, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, playing for the Boston Fleet. Both athletes are set for their third Olympic appearances, bringing experienced leadership to the roster.
The U.S. team is scheduled to open Olympic competition on February 5 against Czechia at the Milano Rho Hockey Arena. The game starts at 4:40 p.m. local time, which is 10:40 a.m. Eastern Time, and will be broadcast live on USA Network or streamed on Peacock. This leadership announcement highlights the team’s preparation for the tournament in Milan, Italy.
