MILAN – During the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, there will be pivotal moments when Hilary Knight’s teammates can feel a shift in energy. This could happen in a potential gold-medal match, during practice, or even in a quiet moment in the locker room prior to the game.
It requires an exceptional, elite athlete to be selected for the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team five times, and it is no surprise that Hilary Knight is always prepared to step up when her country needs her the most.
“It’s incredible for Hilary to be heading to her fifth Olympics,” remarked Lee Stecklein, who secured a gold medal alongside Knight at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
“We often say that Hilary reaches her peak when she enters this mode. It’s hard to put into words. You just feel it. She possesses this extraordinary level. I’m not sure how she continues to access that level, but that’s what makes her unique. She has this switch, this additional level she taps into when it’s most needed, when the team requires it, at any moment. That’s why she stands out as the best.”
Knight was appointed captain of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team on Monday in Milan, with Alex Carpenter and Megan Keller serving as alternate captains. The team will commence its quest for gold on Thursday against Czechia (10:40 a.m. ET | USA Network | Peacock).
Knight beamed during training camp with the U.S. Women’s National Team this fall when asked about her ability to switch into a different mode.
“I just enter a killer mode,” Knight explained. “If you’ve seen any comic book films, you know how characters transform into their alter egos or superheroes. I mentally and physically shift to a different place and believe I can accomplish anything. It’s this ultra-human kind of composure.
One of the moments that makes it real.
Ahead of their 5th and 4th #WinterOlympics, @HilaryKnight and @KendallCoyne get fitted for their rings. pic.twitter.com/GVAwxE5la6
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) January 31, 2026
“Everyone has that potential within them, and it’s about accessing it.”
Envisioning success and preparing for significant moments is something the now 36-year-old recalls developing as a child in Lake Forest, Illinois. Whether it was practicing a game-winning basketball shot in her driveway, imagining scoring a decisive goal in the Olympics, or honing her early skills with the Highland Park Falcons youth hockey program.
“When I’m training alone or in quiet moments, even from a young age, I consistently visualize that and generate that adrenaline and emotion,” Knight stated.
Knight, who began playing hockey at the age of 5, was a fan of Marvel’s Wolverine as a child and has a strong admiration for Batman. Her dog, Bane, is named after Batman’s notable adversary.
Knight has been a significant challenge for opposing nations on the ice and has emerged as a fierce ally for her American teammates. She ranks second in U.S. Olympic women’s history for points (27, five behind Jenny Potter) and third in goals (12, two behind Natalie Darwitz and Katie King).
Since her appointment as national team captain in 2023, the U.S. has claimed two World Championships and recently achieved a clean sweep in the Rivalry Series against Canada.
Knight is now prepared to guide her teammates and nation back to the top of the podium and secure the Olympic gold medal for the United States for the first time since 2018.
“Bringing home another gold to the United States would be extraordinary in its own right,” Knight remarked. “Just the child in me reflecting on signing up for the game, but it would also be deserved because when we step onto that world stage, we represent something much larger than ourselves.
“We all feel that. We aspire to be victorious and bring that back to the United States.”
A version of this story originally appeared in the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games USA Hockey Magazine preview issue.
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