(UW ATHLETICS) UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Wisconsin women’s hockey senior Caroline Harvey added another impressive honor to her long list of accolades as the defender won the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, USA Hockey announced on Saturday afternoon.
The MVP of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Harvey is the seventh Badger to win the award, joining the likes of Sara Bauer (2006), Jessie Vetter (2009), Meghan Duggan (2011), Brianna Decker (2012), Ann-Renee Desbiens (2017) and Casey O’Brien (2025). Wisconsin’s seven winners are the most of any school in the country.
“To my teammates, your constant drive and commitment is incredible,” Harvey remarked in her acceptance speech.
“Being able to compete against one another everyday in practice, pushing each other to our absolute limits always, has been a blessing. I am forever grateful for the amazing friendships you have all provided along the way. This award is a reflection of our team’s success, as nothing is ever an individual award.”
This season Harvey ranks fourth in the country with 63 points, matching her career high set last year.
Harvey became the first Badger defender to post 200 career points on Friday thanks to an assist on UW’s game-winning goal against Penn State. Her 146 assists are the second most of any skater in school history, trailing only Casey O’Brien, who had 177 in five years with the Cardinal and White.
The 2026 WCHA Player of the Year, Harvey also sports a +213 career plus/minus rating and is one of only four Badgers to record a plus/minus rating of +200 or more.
Harvey has made her mark on the international stage as well, as she recorded nine points at the 2026 Winter Olympics while leading Team USA to gold. She also was named the Bob Allen Women’s Hockey Player of the Year in 2023 and has won five World Championship medals with the U.S.
The Badger captain is also one of only three defenders to win the award, joining Angela Ruggiero of Harvard (2003) and Sophie Jaques of Ohio State (2023).
Harvey and the Badgers look for their ninth NCAA title on Sunday as UW takes on Ohio State in the national championship game. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. CT at Pegula Ice Arena and the game will air live on ESPNU.
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