The U.S.'s Taylor Heise (#27) won her second IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship in 2025 and hopes to add an Olympic gold medal in 2026.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MATT ZAMBONIN
Year after year, Taylor Heise rises to the occasion. When we last saw the 25-year-old American superstar in IIHF competition, she was setting up Tessa Janecke for the 4-3 overtime winner at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
This year, the top international priority for Heise is winning a gold medal in her Olympic debut in Milano Cortina 2026. The dazzling Minnesota-born ace set an excellent tone in the Rivalry Series against Canada, which wrapped up in December in Edmonton. She led all skaters with nine points in four games.
This year, the top international priority for Heise is winning a gold medal in her Olympic debut in Milano Cortina 2026. The dazzling Minnesota-born ace set an excellent tone in the Rivalry Series against Canada, which wrapped up in December in Edmonton. She led all skaters with nine points in four games.
Heise – the #1 overall pick of the Minnesota Frost in 2023 – has been a bit quieter in PWHL action this season with seven points in 10 games. However, the former University of Minnesota centre’s track record – including three IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship gold medals (2016-18), two Women’s Worlds golds (2023, 2025), and two PWHL titles (2024, 2025) – gives every reason to believe she will step up in Milan. She owns MVP awards from all three of the aforementioned competitions.
IIHF.com got some thoughts from Heise between periods at the Sweden-Czechia gold medal game at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota.
On her favourite Olympic-related memory to date
I would say my favorite memory so far was getting the phone call. I just got it last week. We were in Toronto on a PWHL road trip, and just hearing the words, “You’re going to be an Olympian,” was pretty cool for me. Obviously it’s something I’ve never experienced, and it’s one of my top bucket list items and dreams. I’m really excited!
IIHF.com got some thoughts from Heise between periods at the Sweden-Czechia gold medal game at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in St. Paul, Minnesota.
On her favourite Olympic-related memory to date
I would say my favorite memory so far was getting the phone call. I just got it last week. We were in Toronto on a PWHL road trip, and just hearing the words, “You’re going to be an Olympian,” was pretty cool for me. Obviously it’s something I’ve never experienced, and it’s one of my top bucket list items and dreams. I’m really excited!
On her fondest memory from past World Championships
Any time I won a gold medal. But when I was 15, we played my first World Championship in Canada [the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario]. It was a sold-out crowd, and no one was cheering for the US. I remember we ended up stunning them in overtime. Natalie Snodgrass from Minnesota also scored the game-winner. So anytime I can play in Canada, I honestly would rather take the boos than playing in the US with people cheering me on!
On how it feels to suit up for the U.S. on the biggest stage
It’s definitely an honour. I think representing your country at any level is pretty important, but the Olympics is definitely the highest level, and I’m super-excited to do that. Any time you put the USA emblem on my chest, I’m going to be excited. You never know when it's going to be your last time, so try to take advantage of every moment.
On what she’s looking forward to in Milano Cortina 2026
Meeting some of the other athletes and just watching other sport disciplines, because it brings you back to all the hard work you did. You can imagine how much harder they worked as well! And obviously, being in Milan. I’ve never been there. Italy is pretty cool and I’m excited for that.
On seeing Minneapolis and St. Paul host the 2026 World Juniors
It’s awesome. Obviously, I’ve been gone for the past 10 days because they're playing in our home rink. But it’s super-cool. We watched almost every game. It’s just a highlight of all the best talents around the country, around the world. We were excited to catch this last game here. Obviously we would have hoped the U.S. was a part of it. But either way, it’s a big game.
Any time I won a gold medal. But when I was 15, we played my first World Championship in Canada [the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario]. It was a sold-out crowd, and no one was cheering for the US. I remember we ended up stunning them in overtime. Natalie Snodgrass from Minnesota also scored the game-winner. So anytime I can play in Canada, I honestly would rather take the boos than playing in the US with people cheering me on!
On how it feels to suit up for the U.S. on the biggest stage
It’s definitely an honour. I think representing your country at any level is pretty important, but the Olympics is definitely the highest level, and I’m super-excited to do that. Any time you put the USA emblem on my chest, I’m going to be excited. You never know when it's going to be your last time, so try to take advantage of every moment.
On what she’s looking forward to in Milano Cortina 2026
Meeting some of the other athletes and just watching other sport disciplines, because it brings you back to all the hard work you did. You can imagine how much harder they worked as well! And obviously, being in Milan. I’ve never been there. Italy is pretty cool and I’m excited for that.
On seeing Minneapolis and St. Paul host the 2026 World Juniors
It’s awesome. Obviously, I’ve been gone for the past 10 days because they're playing in our home rink. But it’s super-cool. We watched almost every game. It’s just a highlight of all the best talents around the country, around the world. We were excited to catch this last game here. Obviously we would have hoped the U.S. was a part of it. But either way, it’s a big game.
On the Minnesota Frost’s 2025-26 season so far
People thought after the first year of winning, we’d have a lot of people on our back. Now, after two [straight championships], we've got even more people out there – everyone wants to beat us! It's the way it is. We came off of two hard losses here on the road, leading us back into being at home here at the Grand Casino Arena. We’re really excited to be back.
On who will come to watch her compete at the Olympics
I have about 35 people, I think, as of right now. I have my mom, my dad, and then my mom has five teaching friends from home and all their husbands and their kids. And then my fiance Parker will be there, and his mom. Lots going on, but super-exciting, because I have a huge family and support system at home. I’m just really excited they get to be there!
People thought after the first year of winning, we’d have a lot of people on our back. Now, after two [straight championships], we've got even more people out there – everyone wants to beat us! It's the way it is. We came off of two hard losses here on the road, leading us back into being at home here at the Grand Casino Arena. We’re really excited to be back.
On who will come to watch her compete at the Olympics
I have about 35 people, I think, as of right now. I have my mom, my dad, and then my mom has five teaching friends from home and all their husbands and their kids. And then my fiance Parker will be there, and his mom. Lots going on, but super-exciting, because I have a huge family and support system at home. I’m just really excited they get to be there!