Caroline Harvey Poised to Revolutionize Women’s Hockey
MILAN – Jennifer Botterill, a veteran of decades in hockey as both a player and analyst, believes she’s witnessed the emergence of something truly special at the 2026 Olympic Games. Botterill, a three-time Olympic gold medalist for Team Canada and a Hockey Hall of Fame member, says she has never seen a player quite like American defender Caroline Harvey.
“She moves so well on the ice and in her offensive contributions,” Botterill said during the NBC Olympic broadcast of Team USA’s quarterfinal game against Italy on Friday night. “The best we’ve ever seen from a player on Team USA that plays defense.”
Harvey, 23, is dominating the Olympic tournament, leading Team USA in scoring with nine points in five games – the most ever scored at the Olympics by an American defender. She is just four points away from tying the all-time record for points in a single Olympic tournament.
Her impact extends beyond the Olympics. Harvey is widely projected to be the first overall pick in the upcoming Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft. American forward Matthew Tkachuk, after witnessing Harvey’s three-point performance in a 5-0 rout of Canada, didn’t hesitate with his assessment: “Caroline Harvey is like Bobby Orr. She was the best player on the ice… by a lot.”
Harvey’s journey to this point hasn’t been without its challenges. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, as a 19-year-old and the youngest player on Team USA, she saw limited ice time. After taking a penalty against Canada, she spent significant portions of the tournament on the bench, playing just over a minute in the gold medal game, which Canada won 3-2.
However, Harvey’s focus remained on the team’s outcome, stating she was more stung by the loss than by her limited role. “It’s not something you want to feel again,” she reportedly told The Athletic. “Especially on the Olympic stage.”
A change in coaching following the 2022 Olympics proved pivotal. New head coach John Wroblewski recognized Harvey’s potential and encouraged her to play with more confidence. This guidance coincided with Harvey’s breakout performance at the 2022 Women’s World Championships, where she scored three goals and eight points.
Harvey’s success continued at the University of Wisconsin, where she has become a two-time NCAA national champion. This season, she leads all defenders in scoring with 54 points in 26 games and is the program’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen with 137 career points.
The difference between the 2022 Olympics and now, Harvey says, is experience. She has matured both on and off the ice, honing her skills and developing a leadership role at Wisconsin, where she is now a captain.
Harvey’s dedication to improvement is relentless. She practices nearly every day with Wisconsin and attends additional skills sessions before class. She spends hours in the team’s shooting room, working on her shot and stickhandling, firing “a few hundred pucks” in each session.
“She’s constantly working on improving her game,” said Dan Koch, a longtime Wisconsin associate coach. “Her conditioning level is off the charts. She does everything throughout the day that’s going to help her be the best player when she gets on the ice.”
Her speed is a defining characteristic, allowing her to join the offensive rush like a fourth forward while remaining defensively responsible. Botterill and others have drawn comparisons to NHL stars Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, and even the legendary Bobby Orr.
“I haven’t seen a player with Caroline’s speed at the blue line,” Koch said. “Then her ability to add the offensive side too is really unique. It’s hard to compare her to anyone else in the past.”
Hall of Fame defender Angela Ruggiero believes Harvey has the potential to “revolutionize the game.”
Team USA, currently undefeated in the Olympic tournament with a 5-0 record and a goal differential of 26-1, is two wins away from securing the gold medal. For Harvey, this is just the beginning of what promises to be a remarkable career.
“At 23, she believes, and a lot of us believe, that she can still improve,” Koch said. “If she’s able to stay healthy, she’s going to play in multiple Olympics – maybe five. And she’s going to end up being a leader for that program.”
