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Three-Time Olympian Brianna Decker Announces Retirement

By USA Hockey, 03/02/23, 10:25AM EST

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U.S. Women’s National Team great retires following legendary international career

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.) announced her retirement from the U.S. Women’s National Team today.  

The legendary forward was a key part of three U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Teams, helping Team USA win gold at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, and silver at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, and 2022 Games in Beijing, China. Decker also played an integral role in helping the U.S. win gold on six occasions at the IIHF Women’s World Championship (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) and silver twice (2012, 2021). 

In total, Decker played 147 games in the U.S. sweater, tallying 170 career points, including 81 goals, 89 assists. She is third in U.S. history for career points (68) at the IIHF Women’s World Championship and fourth all-time in assists (40). 

“Representing USA Hockey as a member of Team USA has been the honor of a lifetime,” Decker said. “Hockey has given me opportunities I could only dream of as a young kid just learning to skate. Playing hockey first started as a way to keep up with my brothers, but turned into my life’s passion. I’m proud to have taken the ice with so many incredible teammates and thank them, my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the years.” 

“Brianna was a difference-maker every time she stepped on the ice and won at every level of the game,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “While we’ll miss watching her play, we look forward to her continued involvement in the sport and wish her the very best in the next chapter of life.” 

“Brianna Decker is a winner through and through,” said Katie Million, director of women’s national team programs for USA Hockey. “Her skill and tenacity on the ice, and leadership off the ice, helped our U.S. Women’s National Team reach unprecedented levels of success. We wish her the very best in the next chapter of life and look forward to her continued involvement in hockey."

The Dousman, Wisconsin, native made her U.S. Women’s National Team debut in 2008 at the Four Nations Cup and she played for Team USA in every IIHF Women’s World Championship contested from 2011-2021. 

In addition, Decker helped Team USA win gold at the first two IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championships in 2008 and 2009. 

During her collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin, Decker was named the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner as the top player in NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey and helped the Bagers win the NCAA national championship in 2011. 

Decker also played professionally in the CWHL, NWHL and PWHPA between 2014-21. She is a two-time NWHL Most Valuable Player with the Boston Pride and helped Boston win the league’s inaugural Isobel Cup in 2015-16. 

“Over the course of my career, countless coaches made an immeasurable impact on my life both on and off the ice,” Decker said. “It is the impact of coaches like Gordie Stafford at Shattuck-St. Mary’s and Mark Johnson at the University of Wisconsin who continue to inspire me as I move into the next chapter of my hockey journey as a coach. I look forward to helping shape the next generation of bright young hockey stars in the United States.” 

Off the ice, Decker continues to help foster the growth and development of girls hockey nationwide. 

She has served as an assistant coach for three U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Teams, helping Team USA to gold in 2020, silver in 2019 and bronze in 2023 at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship. 

She currently serves as the girls prep associate head coach and special advisor to the Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey program, as well as a team and player development advisor for the Premier Hockey Federation. 

Additionally, Decker, with the support of the USA Hockey Foundation, launched the Brianna Decker Endowment for Girls Hockey in 2019. The endowment provides grants to 8U and 10U hockey programs across the country to help increase girls hockey participation. Eight programs have received a grant since 2019. 


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