Top 25 Women’s Hockey players in Olympic history

The Winter Olympics are the ultimate showcase of athleticism, where athletes get the chance to reach for ultimate glory while proudly wearing their nations’ colors.

Since 1998, the best women’s hockey players in the world have graced the world stage at the Winter Games, opening the eyes of casual fans to the true potential the sport holds. Since those days in Nagano, several players have etched their names among the best with stellar performances when it mattered most.

Today, I look at the 25 best women’s hockey players to ever play at the Olympics.

Honorable Mention

Monique Lamoreux, F (USA)

A talented scorer who developed into more of a defensive player over her tenure with the national team. Lamoureux scored 10 points during the 2010 tournament in Vancouver, finishing third on her team in scoring. She ended up with 18 career Olympic points, winning a pair of silver medals and gold in 2018.

Claire Thompson, D (Canada)

One of the players expected to be important for Canada this year in Milan, Thompson’s Olympic debut was a memorable one. In 2022 in Beijing, the Toronto native potted two goals and 13 points, and was named to the All-Star Team in the process.

Jennifer Botterill, F (Canada)

A deserved Hall of Famer, Botterill was an exceptional two-way player for the stacked Canadian rosters in the first four Olympic tournaments. She posted a career-best six points in the 2002 Winter Games, helping Canada win gold for the first time.

Sarah Tueting, G (USA)

The world wasn’t sure what to expect heading into the inaugural tournament in Nagano. The U.S squad captured the hearts of many, with Sarah Tueting coming up clutch. In the gold medal game against Canada, the Dartmouth native made 21 saves in the upset win. Across two Olympics, Tueting won five games, tied for eighth all-time.

25. Alina Müller, F (Switzerland)

While Lara Stalder is a legend in Swiss hockey, Müller has become the country’s biggest star in the women’s game. She made her Olympic debut in Sochi at the age of 15, but really came into her own in 2018, scoring seven goals and 10 points, and was named the forward of the tournament. In 19 games, the Winterthur native has scored 23 points, second-most by a European in the Olympics.

24. Jenni Hiirikoski, D (Finland)

One of the great constants on the international stage, Hiirikoski has been part of a very successful era for Finnish hockey. She made her national team debut at 17, playing in her first Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. She’s helped her team win the bronze medal three times, earning the title as the tournament’s best defender in 2014 and 2018. Heading into her fifth Olympics at the age of 38, Hiirikoski has 14 points in 24 games, one point away from tying Angela Ruggiero for the most by a defender in Olympic history.

23. Kim Martin-Hasson, G (Sweden)

Sweden’s “golden era” of women’s hockey saw Kim Martin lead the team to its most successful performances on the world stage. She played well in Damkronorna’s run to the bronze in Salt Lake City in 2002, but really stepped into the spotlight four years later. The Malmo RedHawk stonewalled the Americans in the semifinals in Turin, making Sweden the first, and so far only, European team to play in an Olympic gold medal final. Martin won six games in her Olympic career, tied for sixth all-time in tournament history.

22. Sarah Nurse, F (Canada)

She might have played in only one Olympics, but Nurse certainly made an impression in Beijing four years ago that has carried to this day. The Ontario native couldn’t stop scoring against the competition, delivering a record-breaking 18 points in seven games, including a goal in the gold medal game against the U.S. Nurse was named to the tournament all-star team, along with the gold medal.

21. Florence Schelling, G (Switzerland)

Prior to the 2014 Games, only four countries had won a medal in women’s Olympic hockey. Florence Schelling had a huge part in changing that in Sochi. Though the Swiss fell to Canada in the semifinals, the Zurich native made 28 saves against the Swedes to help the Swiss win the bronze, the country’s lone medal in Olympic hockey. Schelling is one of two goaltenders to have played in four different Olympics, and sits second all-time in wins (9) and first in shutouts (5).

20. Ann-Renee Desbiens, G (Canada)

Desbiens was second fiddle behind Shannon Szabados in 2018, but in her first Olympics as the starter, she was incredible. Even with such a strong team in front of her, the Quebec native had to come up clutch against the Americans. After making 51 saves in the group stage win over the U.S., making 38 stops in the gold medal game. She ended up going 5-0-0, with a 1.80 GAA and .940 SV%.

19. Karyn Bye, F (USA)

Bye might not have played for the national team until she was 21, but when she stepped into the spotlight, she truly shone. The River Falls, Wis., native finished tied for the most points by an American with five goals and eight points in 1998, good for third in the tournament in scoring, helping her team reach the gold medal game. She followed that up with six points in Salt Lake City, taking home the silver medal.

18. Rebecca Johnston, F (Canada)

Across four Olympics, Johnston was always relied upon to contribute in a variety of ways. Her best performance came during the Beijing Olympics, notching two goals and 10 points, winning a third gold medal with her country. In 22 games, Johnston scored eight goals and 26 points, sitting tied for eighth in points in the tournament with…

17. Caroline Ouellette, F (Canada)

It’s crazy to remember who clutch Ouellette was back in the day. Before Marie-Philip Poulin, Ouellette was the Quebec native who found a way to score big goals for her country. She scored the first goal in the gold medal game in Salt Lake City, and four years later, she scored what ended up being the game-winning goal against Sweden in the final. Ouellette scored nine goals and 26 points in her four Olympic appearances.

16. Kim St-Pierre, G (Canada)

St-Pierre might not have had the same numbers that Desbiens had in the 2002 tournament, but her ability to come up with a key save in the biggest moments made her a legend. She stoned the Americans multiple times in the final in Salt Lake City, helping Canada bring home the gold for the first time. In sharing the net with Charline Labonte four years later, St-Pierre gave up just one goal in her two starts. Her play not only made her a national hero, but a Hall of Famer.

15. Katie King, F (USA)

King was another key piece in helping the U.S. win that historic gold medal in 1998. Her eight points leveled her with Bye and captain Cammi Granato for the most on the team. She stayed at that pace for her next two endeavors at the Winter Games, and is tied with Natalie Darwitz for the most goals (14) by an American in an Olympic career, with her 23 points placing her fourth among all U.S. skaters.

14. Noora Räty, G (Finland)

Unquestionably the greatest European goaltender in women’s hockey history. Räty was just 16 when she debuted on the Olympic stage in 2006. By 2010, she was the country’s No. 1 netminder, a title she held for over a decade. The Espoo native led Suomi to the bronze in 2010 and 2018, with Räty being named to the all-star team in Pyeongchang. Across four Olympics, she registered 10 wins, the most of any goaltender in women’s Olympic history.

13. Cammi Granato, F (USA)

Long before Hilary Knight was the face of American hockey, there was Cammi Granato. An original on the first world championship roster in 1990, the Downers Grove, Ill. native was a key piece in leading the U.S. to the dramatic victory in 1998. Granato played even better in 2002, as the captain scored six goals and 10 points, though the Americans came up short in the gold medal game. One of the first women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Granato scored 18 points in 11 Olympic contests.

12. Angela Ruggiero, D (USA)

There were quite a few years when few argued against the notion that Ruggiero was the best defender in women’s hockey. She truly could do it all, and then some, in the biggest moments. She was named the best defender in 2002 and 2006, leading all skaters with a +11 rating in Salt Lake City. She helped the U.S. win gold in Nagano at the age of 18, winning three silvers after that. Her 15 points in 21 games is the most by a blueliner in tournament history.

11. Natalie Darwitz, F (USA)

While she never experienced winning gold at the Olympics, Darwitz was an exceptional player who was one of the Americans’ go-to weapons in her three tournaments on the big stage. In 2010, she finished tied with Jenny Potter for the team lead in scoring with 11 points. Eight years earlier in Salt Lake City, she was named to the All-Star Team after posting eight points in five games. Her 25 career points at the Winter Games place her tied for 10th all-time, and third among American skaters.

10. Riikka Sallinen, F (Finland)

The best European player of all time, Riikka Sallinen (formerly Riikka Nieminen) was an electrifying player for decades. She played in the first five Olympic tournaments, making her final appearance in 2018 at age 44. Yet, she still managed to lead the team in goals with four. Sallinen was the leading scorer of the inaugural tournament in Japan, with her 12 points making her the lone skater to hit double digits. With 25 points in 23 games, she ranks tied for 10th all-time in Olympic scoring. She remains the only woman to have competed in six Olympic hockey tournaments.

9. Danielle Goyette, F (Canada)

Goyette’s longevity is what made her a Hall of Famer, both in the Hockey and IIHF Hall of Fames. On top of being Canada’s top scorer in the first-ever women’s Olympic tournament, the St-Nazaire, Que. native finished tied for the most points in 2002, notching 10 points, including assisting on Hayley Wickenheiser’s big goal in the final against the U.S. Goyette is tied for fourth all-time in Olympic goal scoring with 15 tallies in 16 games.

8. Meghan Agosta, F (Canada)

One of the most efficient scorers Canada has ever had, Agosta was dynamite when her country needed it most. On home ice in 2010, the Windsor native went off, scoring nine goals and 15 points. Along with leading the tournament in scoring, she was named the tournament’s best forward and MVP, helping Canada capture a third straight gold medal. Agosta’s 17 career goals at the Olympics are tied for the second-most all time, with her 28 points placing her sixth in tournament history.

7. Shannon Szabados, G (Canada)

In Canada’s history, only one netminder has been the true No. 1 in consecutive Olympics. Until Desbiens takes to the ice in Milan next month, Szabados stands alone in that category. She was sensational in the 2010 gold medal game against the U.S. Then, she led the 2014 tournament with a .954 SV% and 0.96 GAA. Even in her third trip to the Olympics in 2018, she was named the best goaltender in Pyeongchang, despite coming up short of winning gold. The Edmonton native gave up just eight goals in nine career games, with a career .959 SV% that is the best all-time.

6. Hilary Knight, F (USA)

The modern-day Captain America, Knight has been a constant in the U.S. lineup for almost two decades. Heading into her final Olympics, the Idaho native has a chance to go down as the greatest American-born player in the tournament’s history. She’s averaged a point per game in three of her first four appearances at the Winter Games and was named to the All-Star Team in 2014. Knight has 27 points in 22 games, currently sitting seventh all-time among skaters, and second-most by an American.

5. Cherie Piper, F (Canada)

One of the more unheralded players in Canadian history, Piper always managed to get her name on the scoresheet. From her first Olympics in Salt Lake City to her last in Vancouver, the East York, Ont. native was consistency personified. She finished second in scoring in 2006 in Turin with 15 points, following that up with another 10 in 2010. She might not have been the star of the show when she played, but those who played with Piper know how important she was. She’s the only player who’s played over 10 games to have averaged two points per game, with Piper’s 30 points placing her tied for fourth all-time in scoring with…

4. Jayna Hefford, F (Canada)

There weren’t many players who found ways to rise to the occasion in big moments the way Hefford could. Her huge goal in the 2002 final ended up being the game-winner, with the Trenton, Ont. native also potting the GWG in the semifinals before that. She was a leader on and off the ice, a key reason Canada won four straight gold medals. The Hall of Famer finished her international career in 2014, scoring 13 goals and 30 points in the Olympics.

3. Jenny Potter, F (USA)

Just an amazing hockey player who was so much fun to watch. Potter was a young but important piece on the 1998 team and became one of the team’s key players in the following tournaments. She led the Americans in scoring in her final Olympics in 2010, and was named a tournament all-star as a result. One of the more decorated players of all time, one gold and three silvers, Potter (for now) remains the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team, and is third among all skaters with 32 points.

2. Marie-Philip Poulin, F (Canada)

Captain Clutch finally makes her long-awaited appearance. From her explosive debut at the age of 18 to her pushing Canada to a fifth gold medal four years ago in Beijing, there has been no player who has grabbed the attention of everyone the way Poulin has. Her heroics in the 2014 final will go down in history as one of the best individual performances in a championship game. Heading into her fifth Olympics, No. 29 still looks like she’s at the top of her game. Poulin is second all-time in scoring with 35 points, only trailing…

1. Hayley Wickenheiser, F (Canada)

Did you expect anyone else?

There have been so few players who have been able to dominate the game the way Wickenheiser did in her prime. She had the mix of physicality and skill that put her in a class above the rest. At 19 years old in Nagano, she was unquestionably one of, if not the, best players on Canada’s roster. She further cemented her status as an elite talent in 2002, winning her first of two Olympic MVP honors. The second came in Italy four years later, when the Sasky native posted a ridiculous 17 points in five games. Her 3.4 points per game is a record that still stands today.

Of her five Olympic appearances, Wickenheiser failed to score 10 points twice. No. 22 was excellence personified and became a legend for all time thanks to what she could do on the international stage. No one has scored more goals (18), assists (33) or points (51) than Hayley Wickenheiser.