American defender Caroline Harvey has capped a sensational 2025-26 season by being named the IIHF’s Female Player of the Year in a landslide vote.

Harvey received 77.3 per cent per cent of the votes, the largest by any player in the trophy’s young history. Finishing in second was Swiss forward Alina Muller, who garnered 9.1 per cent of the vote. Laila Edwards (USA) and Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN) had 4.5 per cent each, while Americans Taylor and Heise and Megan Keller also received votes.

Harvey, who had previously been nominated for the award in 2023 and 2025, shone at the Olympics and in the NCAA this past season. She won gold with the United States at the Olympics in February in Milan and was named tournament MVP. Harvey led the Games with seven assists and tied for first in scoring (2+7=9) with teammate Megan Keller. 

In the NCAA, Harvey led the Wisconsin Badgers to a national title and was named winner of the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award as MVP for women’s hockey. She also finished fourth in scoring over the course of the NCAA season with 63 points despite missing a large part of the schedule with her Olympic participation.

Harvey scored the opening goal—and what proved to be the game winner—against Canada in a 5-0 round-robin win in Milan. Her other Olympics goal was the final score in an earlier 5-0 win over Switzerland. In addition to being named MVP, she was also named IIHF Directorate Award Best Defender and voted to the All-Star Team. 

Harvey is also only the third defender to win the Kazmaier, following Angela Ruggiero (USA/Harvard, 2003) and Sophie Jacques (CAN/Ohio State, 2023). 

Now graduated, Harvey is taking part in the PWHL Draft later today in Detroit and will no doubt be selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes as she looks to starting a professional career in 2026-27.

The IIHF Female Player of the Year award is given annually to a player who “best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season.” 

Candidates must have competed in at least one IIHF tournament (this year, that means the Olympics or U18 Women’s World Championship) as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country, the combined performances of which are deemed superior to all other players.

The voting took place among media and appropriate members of the IIHF Family. In all, more than 80 voters were involved. 

The IIHF Female Player of the Year trophy is housed permanently at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and the winner is presented with a smaller version for the player to keep. The IIHF will announce at a later date when this ceremony will take place.

IIHF Female Player of the Year Winners 

2025-26    Caroline Harvey, D (USA)
2024-25    Marie-Philip Poulin, F (CAN)
2023-24    Natalie Spooner, F (CAN) 
2022-23    Hilary Knight, F (USA)