B1G Names to Watch in the 2026 Winter Olympics
Big Ten stars set to shine on the ice and snow in Milan Cortina
It’s February, and the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics have arrived. NCAA athletes from across the country are packing their bags and heading overseas to represent their nations on the world’s biggest stage. In total, 238 NCAA-affiliated athletes will compete, and the Big Ten leads all conferences with 51 Olympians – 58 when you include Big Ten student-athletes competing in non-NCAA sports.
Safe to say, the conference will have a B1G presence in Milan. While these athletes take over the slopes and the ice, there are a few names you should have on your radar.
Caroline “KK” Harvey
USA Women’s Ice Hockey | Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Student-Athlete
First up, a true game changer. The biggest NCAA and Big Ten footprint at the Winter Games comes from women’s hockey, and Wisconsin is at the center of it all. The Badgers are sending 12 active and former players to Milan, and leading that crew is Caroline Harvey.
The current two-year Wisconsin captain and senior defender is already no stranger to the Olympic stage. Harvey skipped what would’ve been her freshman season to compete in the 2022 Beijing Games, where she played in seven games and brought home a silver medal. That was just the beginning.
Since arriving in Madison for the 2022–23 season, Harvey has been unstoppable. She appeared in all 41 games as a freshman, racked up 39 points, and scored the overtime game-winner against Minnesota to send Wisconsin to the national title game . There, the Badgers became the first unranked team in NCAA history to win it all.
Her sophomore season delivered 35 points, an NCAA runner-up finish, and a top-10 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award nod. As a junior, she set the program record for points by a defender in a single season with 63, led Wisconsin to another NCAA title, and finished as a top-three finalist for the Kazmaier.
This season, Harvey has already put up 54 points, with 17 goals and 37 assists. Reminder, she’s a defender. Internationally, she’s added six points for Team USA across the USA-Canada Rivalry Series and the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2025 alone.
The hockey world is taking notice. In a recent PWHL player poll in The New York Times , Harvey finished second in voting for the next face of the league, finishing just behind New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier.
Keep your eyes on the projected No. 1 overall PWHL draft pick this Olympics. Caroline Harvey isn’t just showing up in Milan. She’s showing out.
Quinn Hughes
USA Men’s Ice Hockey | Michigan Men’s Hockey Alumnus
What is he thinking about? Quinn Hughes, the wildly talented (and sometimes zoning out ) former Big Ten hockey defender will have our eyes locked on the screen in Milan.
The Orlando, Fla. native heads to the 2026 Olympics alongside fellow University of Michigan alumni Dylan Larkin, Kyle Connor, and Zach Werenski. And if the last name Hughes sounds familiar in the hockey world, it should. Brothers Jack, Luke, and Quinn have all carved out spots among the NHL’s elite, with Jack and Quinn suiting up for Team USA in Milan.
At 26, Hughes is currently patrolling the blue line for the Minnesota Wild after being traded from the Vancouver Canucks in mid-December. As of February 3, 2026, he’s piled up 55 points in 51 games this season with five goals and 50 assists. That brings his early NHL career totals to 464 points across 484 games.
Before Minnesota, Hughes made history in Vancouver. In 2023, he became the Canucks’ first defenseman captain since the 1990–91 season. He followed that up with a monster year, winning the 2024 Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman after leading the league with a career-high 92 points.
Hughes’ ability to score and create is driven by an elite hockey IQ that showed up early. He posted 29 points as a freshman at Michigan in the 2017-18 season before scoring 33 points in just 32 games during his sophomore campaign. He jumped to the NHL shortly after the Big Ten playoffs and recorded an assist in his first career game.
Michigan was only the launch point. Now, Quinn Hughes is set to be a critical piece of Team USA’s push for gold in Milan – and don’t be surprised if he’s thinking three plays ahead while doing it.
Alysa Liu
USA Women’s Figure Skating | UCLA Student
Guess who’s back? Yes, that Alysa. And she’s back like she never left.
After retiring at just 16, Alysa Liu is officially back on the ice at 20, and she’s doing it her way. Rocking her signature ringed hairstyle, bright tights, and an even brighter smile, Liu brings an authenticity to figure skating that feels rare and refreshing. Not only is she competing again, but she’s also redefining what the sport can look like. People recently spoke with Liu about the inspiration behind her hair rings, and it’s a must-read .
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s been breaking records since she was barely a teenager. Liu became the youngest U.S. Women’s National Champion in history at just 13, then defended her title at 14.
She also made history as the first woman from any country to land both a quadruple jump and a triple axel in the same program. Oh, and she was also the first U.S. woman to land a triple axel in international competition . Absolutely iconic.
What sets Liu apart is her freedom. She breaks the mold without sacrificing an ounce of the discipline, precision, or grace that figure skating demands. She proves that individuality and excellence can coexist on the same sheet of ice.
While Liu isn’t technically a Big Ten student-athlete since figure skating isn’t an NCAA-sponsored sport, she currently attends UCLA and studies psychology. She is favored to bring home gold for Team USA, so bookmark her skate times now. This is another performance you won’t want to miss.
Evan Bates
USA Ice Dancing | Michigan Alumnus
They say the person you marry is your rock, and for Team USA ice dancer and Michigan alum Evan Bates, that couldn’t be more accurate.
Bates heads to Italy alongside his skating partner and wife, Madison Chock, with their sights set on a second Olympic gold medal. The two began skating together in 2011 and tied the knot in 2024. Sounds like a romance novel in the making! Their story is so compelling that the AP recently reported Netflix is producing a behind-the-scenes documentary on the duo.
Milan will mark Bates’ fifth Olympic appearance, a testament to one of the most consistent and enduring careers in ice dance. Known for his steadiness, precision, and ability to evolve with the sport, Bates has spent years proving what longevity and growth look like at the highest level.
As a veteran leader on Team USA’s ice dance squad, Bates brings a calm confidence and competitive edge that shows up when the stakes are highest.
Bates and Chock enter the Games as favorites for gold for the United States, and all eyes will be on them when they take the ice.
Ann Renée Desbiens
Canada Women’s Ice Hockey | Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Alumna
As mentioned before, the Big Ten’s biggest Olympic footprint comes from women’s hockey. While rosters are stacked with legendary names like Hilary Knight for Team USA and Sarah Nurse for Canada, one player stands out: Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Widely considered one of the best goaltenders in the world, Desbiens heads into her third Olympic Games with a chance to win back-to-back golds for Team Canada. She earned gold as the starting goalie in Beijing in 2022, took silver in PyeongChang in 2018, and owns three IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals. Casual dominance.
Before becoming an international powerhouse, Desbiens was already breaking barriers. She was the first female player ever drafted into the QJAAAHL, the second-highest men’s junior hockey league in Quebec. Then came Madison.
During four seasons with Wisconsin, Desbiens put together one of the most dominant collegiate careers the sport has ever seen. She set the NCAA record for most career shutouts, regardless of gender or division, with 55. She also set a program record with 21 shutouts in a single season during her junior year and finished her Badger career with an absurd .955 save percentage. In total, she made 2,295 saves and allowed just 109 goals. Oh, and she won the 2017 Patty Kazmaier Award along the way.
Her Olympic resume is just as jaw-dropping. In the 2022 Games, Desbiens set a national record with 51 saves against the United States, which is the most by any Canadian goalie, male or female, in an Olympic game. Across the entire tournament, she allowed just nine goals on 150 shots.
The former Badger could carry Canada to another gold medal if she’s locked in at Milan. Her toughest tests will come against USA standouts like Abbey Murphy and the ever-dangerous Hilary Knight.
Circle the calendar now. The first USA vs. Canada preliminary matchup on February 10 is appointment viewing.
Honorable Mentions
Laila Edwards
A dynamic scorer with the ability to change a game in a single shift. Edwards brings speed, confidence, and an attacking mindset that translates well on the international stage. Keep an eye out for her family in the stands; they bring the spirit.
Brock Faber
Known for his poise and reliability on the blue line, Faber is the kind of defender coaches trust in high-pressure moments and late-game situations.
Sarah Warren
A versatile competitor who thrives when the spotlight is brightest. Warren’s adaptability and composure make her a valuable presence in any lineup, whether it’s Illinois Women’s Soccer or Team USA Speedskating.
Final Take
From seasoned Olympians to rising stars, the Big Ten’s influence on the 2026 Winter Games is impossible to miss. Whether it’s clutch goals, elite defense, or unforgettable performances on the world’s biggest stage, these athletes are ready to leave their mark in Milan. Keep these names handy, clear your schedule, and enjoy the show (and snow)!
You can see the full list of Big Ten-affiliated Olympians here .