You can tell just from the sound of her voice that Wisconsin hockey superstar Caroline Harvey is tired.
And it makes sense. The Olympic gold medalist is emerging from a whirlwind winter, returning to school mired in both euphoria and fatigue after winning Most Outstanding Player for her part in Team USA’s triumphant run.
But Harvey also wouldn’t trade this moment for the world, she told JWS earlier this month, as she pivots from Olympic glory to a task much closer to home: winning Wisconsin their second straight national championship in her final few games as a Badger.
“Wisconsin hockey, we have the best fans in the nation,” Harvey said, speaking from the school’s training facility. “We’ve got a lot of support, and we have the best team on staff, best teammates. We’re firing on all cylinders — no better time than now.”
Of course, Harvey’s squad is excited to have their on-ice sniper back. Known as “KK” to her teammates, the 23-year-old served as one of just four active NCAA players on the US Olympic squad, joining fellow Badger Laila Edwards, Ohio State standout Joy Dunne, and Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy.
And there was no rest for the weary. The NCAA season continued while its stars were overseas, leaving the young US core to balance Olympic stardom, schoolwork, and keeping track of the competition back home even as they took care of business in Milan.
From NIL Deals to Championship Goals
Now firmly in the postseason, Harvey and Wisconsin teammate Lacey Eden somehow have even more to balance, fielding NIL opportunities stemming from hockey’s growing popularity while carrying the torch for the NCAA’s No. 1 team. They recently featured in UScellular’s “Better Together” campaign, raising women’s college hockey’s profile to new heights.
“UScellular took the time to get to know us as people, and formatted this campaign around our interests and how we interact with each other — our playful, fun energy,” Eden said. “They really brought this idea of our relationship to life.”
“It truly is showcasing our friendship in general, and the connectivity we have,” Harvey echoed. “That definitely plays into our honest style of play.”
Simultaneous Success Across NCAA Hockey’s Biggest Stages
While Harvey and Edwards navigated the Olympics, they made sure to stay in close contact with their college teammates back in Madison. Wisconsin prides itself on its women’s hockey program, having won four of the last six national championships.
Harvey remembers wishing her her fellow Badgers luck via text before games. And she weatched NCAA matches on her phone while in the treatment room in Italy alongside Wisconsin trainer Stefanie Arndt.
“[I was] definitely tuned in and cheering them on from afar,” Harvey recalled. “I was missing them more than ever, and I’m just so glad and happy to be reunited with everyone.”
Eden stepped up in Harvey’s absence. The Annapolis native climbed the scoring leaderboard with 75 points on the year, fueling Wisconsin to the top of the regular-season WCHA standings. Both seniors are expected to be top picks in the PWHL draft, making their final weeks together all the more precious.
“I missed her a lot over the last month. But you knew she’d step up the way she did,” Harvey said of Eden. “She already had been having a phenomenal season. But then to elevate it even more — [I’m] just so impressed with her play.”
“Her leadership too, that’s been a huge thing,” she added. “She already was a leader, but even more so now, [after] having to literally put the team on her back.”
Between academics with hockey, Eden had a bit of a harder time keeping up with her friend’s international breakout. But she made sure to go watch the highlights every time Harvey and Edwards had a good game — a frequent occurrence.
“That’s every little hockey player’s dream,” Eden said, smiling with pride. “To go to the Olympics, win a gold medal, and then on top of it, be the MVP. It’s just insane.”
“It means a lot for the sport in general,” she continued. “And just shows what Wisconsin can produce, and has been producing for many years.”
One Last Frozen Four Dream with Wisconsin
The time apart wasn’t always easy on the Wisconsin duo. Now, however, they’re focused on cultivating their best hockey during this month’s NCAA postseason.
“When [Harvey and Edwards] left, that’s some of our best players just out of the lineup. It was a lot to navigate,” Eden said. “I can’t count the number of goals that we’ve connected on, whether it be KK shooting for a tip for me, or hitting her at the point. It’s definitely something really special when you have that dynamic with a teammate.”
UScellular tapped into how much fun the two have competing at anything — Eden said that they’ve had pickleball paddles taken away because things were getting too heated — reflecting their on-ice bond.
“I feel lucky to be out there when she’s out there,” Harvey said. “She’s such a heads-up player, looking for the right play, whether that’s passing, shooting or an interchange. It’s so exciting.”
And they’ll need every bit of that creativity at the 2026 Frozen Four, the final two games standing between Wisconsin and another NCAA title. The Badgers fell just short in the conference round, falling 2-1 in the WCHA final against rival Ohio State. But they’ve got one more shot at raising their level.
A Breakthrough Year for Women’s Hockey
No matter how the weekend goes, Eden and Harvey are keenly aware that their NCAA careers are coming to a close. The pros await, with more ways than ever to make a living playing the sport they love. Women’s hockey is booming after Team USA’s big win in Milan, with off-ice opportunities reaching players at a rapid clip.
“It’s so exciting for women’s hockey in general, with a lot of eyes and attention being on it,” Harvey said. “[I’m] hoping, obviously, it will be sustained and keep growing.”
But with Wisconsin hockey entering the heart of the Frozen Four, Harvey and Eden also acknowledge that dreaming about the future can break focus. And they don’t want anything messing with their collegiate finale.
“There is a lot of outside noise, and it can be difficult sometimes just to ignore it,” Harvey said. “But the best thing to do is just lean on your teammates and stay present, be where you are with them in that moment.”
Harvey’s star can only rise after this year’s Frozen Four. US women’s hockey has made a statement, both as Olympic winners and a lightning rod in the polarizing women’s sports discourse. And she’ll likely soon be tasked to step up as a national team leader, as the veterans inevitably begin to hang up their skates.
“There’s going to be opinions, there’s going to be people talking, things happening. But what matters is this team,” Harvey said.
“It’s such a short period of time, but it’s going to be so exciting, and we want to be present and enjoy it fully with one another. Because we’ll never, ever be the same team again.”
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