The 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship will take place from April 3-14, 2024, in Utica, New York. Scroll for an inside look at Team USA's journey as they defend gold on home soil, from the start of camp in Lake Placid, New York, through the team's final moments at this year's world championship!

Team USA hit the ice for practice for one final time at the IIHF Women's World Championship today. With one day in between the team's quarterfinal game against Japan on Thursday and semifinal game against Finland on Saturday, the team used the time to fine tune some schemes and get some special teams work in. 

With a spot in the gold medal game on the line in Saturday's game against Finland, the message was clear, work hard and play the team's game. 

The U.S. enters Saturday's semifinal game with a 17-1-1 (W-L-T) in all-time semifinal action at the Women's Worlds. Team USA's opponent, Finland, has been the U.S.' semifinal foe three times before, 2021, 2013 and 1999, with the U.S. winning all three previous meetings. 

THREE BIRTHDAYS IN THREE DAYS

Team USA is celebrating three birthdays in three days here in Utica. Sydney Morrow turned 20 today (April 12), Alex Carpenter turns 30 tomorrow (April 13) and Abbey Murphy turns 22 on Sunday (April 14). 

TEAM USA 10 | JAPAN 0

After a well-deserved day off on Tuesday, Team USA hit the Adirondack Bank Center ice today for its practice as they prepare to take on Japan in the quarterfinals on Thursday. 

The U.S. enters the playoff round as the top overall seed after winning group A with a 4-0-0-0 record. 

Practice was light and fun, but also hard work, as the team mixed drills with laughs for an hour. Practice ended with a fun competition - players lined up at the far goal line and had to bounce a pass off the boards and into the net on the other side of the rink. The challenge stumped most of the team, but goaltender Gwyneth Philips and forward Abbey Murphy were the two still standing at the end. 

PLAYERS VISIT HORSE FARM

A group of players also enjoyed their off day with a visit to a local horse farm. The group took a short drive to Verona, New York, to meet some locals. 

Players had the opportunity to explore the stables, pet the horses and see them grazing the open field. 

With the weather sunny and in the 70s, it was the perfect day!

QUARTERFINAL OPPONENT SET

Team USA's quarterfinal game has been set! The U.S. will face Japan on Thursday (April 11) at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. 

Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on NHL Network. Limited tickets remain, to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE. 

The winner of Thursday's game will move on to the semifinal round on Saturday. 

TEAM USA 1 | CANADA 0 (OT)

After winning back-to-back games against Czechia and Switzerland, Team USA was back on the ice for its final practice before facing Canada on Monday. Players kept practice light, fun and fast paced, knowing a sold out game awaits tomorrow. 

Monday's game against Canada marks the fourth and final preliminary round game for the U.S., who enters the game with an undefeated record of 3-0-0-0. The winner of tomorrow's game will win Group A, as Canada is also undefeated heading into the showdown. 

"It was fun getting to play with these two [Janecke and Edwards] back in 2022 during the under-18 tournament," Simms said during an interview with the IIHF on Sunday. "Getting to be here at reunite with them at this level is super special, it's a full circle moment."

"That tournament [in 2022] had a lot of learning moments for all of us," Janecke said. "We all wanted to be here at the next level some day and for us to be able to share this experience has been incredible."

TEAM USA 5 | FINLAND 3

TEAM USA 6 | CZECHIA 0

For the second time this week, the U.S. Women's National Team welcomed a therapy dog to the team hotel for players to play with and enjoy. Thursday's furry friend was Simcha, a four-year-old Labradoodle. 

Simcha was a fan favorite, with players continuously visiting her and giving well-deserved belly rubs. 

LEADERSHIP GROUP ANNOUNCED

TEAM USA HITS 100TH WOMEN'S WORLDS WIN

Wednesday's win against Switzerland was not just an important game for the U.S., but marked a historic milestone for the program. The win was Team USA's 100th all-time Women's Worlds victory, becoming the first team in IIHF history to hit that mark. 

TEAM USA 4 | SWITZERLAND 0

With the first day of competition in the books, Team USA sits atop the Group A standings following a 4-0 victory over Switzerland. 

The team’s first full day in Utica was a busy one, with practice and media day on the schedule. The team wasted no time after arriving at the Adirondack Bank Center, first checking out their locker room space and receiving their team gear for the tournament. Team USA gets to use the Utica Comets’ locker room space during the tournament.

The team then donned their navy jerseys for media day, taking headshots and the team photo, before jumping on the ice for a full practice. There were a few tricks up some players sleeves, so keep your eyes peeled for some fun content coming out of media day. 

HOW TO WATCH WOMEN'S WORLDS

NHL Network is your home for all things 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship. The network will broadcast ALL Team USA games live, in addition to select other preliminary round games. 

All quarterfinal, semifinal and medal games will also be broadcast live on the network as well. 

The full NHL Network broadcast schedule is below. 

PUPPY LOVE

As a way to relax and unwind from the grind of the tournament, members of the U.S. Women’s National Team and staff enjoyed a few hours with therapy dogs at the team hotel. Keira, an 11 year old Border Collie, spent a few hours after practice cuddling and playing fetch with members of the team. 

Many players on the national team have dogs themselves, so hanging out with Keira provided a nice sense of comfort and adorableness.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2024 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1. The 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship will take place on U.S. soil in Utica, New York, at the Adirondack Bank Center, April 3-14. It marks the first time since 2017 and the fifth time overall that USA Hockey has hosted the tournament. 
2. Fans will have the opportunity to experience the Subaru World Championship Village. Free and open to everyone, the World Championship Village will be the hub of activity throughout the 12-day women’s ice hockey tournament and festival. The space will be open from 3 p.m.-11 p.m. ET daily, with live music filling the indoor venue beginning at 4 p.m. each day of the tournament. 
3. Ten teams will compete for the World Championship title here in Utica. Group A consists of the United States, Canada, Czechia, Finland and Switzerland. Group B includes China, Denmark, Germany, Japan and Sweden. Each team will play four preliminary-round games in their group before the elimination rounds start. 
4. The U.S. enters the tournament as defending World Champions having won the 2023 tournament by the tally of 6-3 against Canada. It marked the U.S.’ tenth all-time gold medal in the event.
5. The 2024 edition is the 23rd overall Women’s World Championship. The first Women’s Worlds was competed in 1990 and Team USA has skated in the gold medal game in every WWC, winning gold ten times. 

TEAM USA BY THE NUMBERS...

25: Total number of players selected to represent the U.S. at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship. The team is comprised of 15 forwards, seven defenders and three goaltenders. 

18: Total number of returners from the gold medal-winning 2023 squad, including Cayla Barnes (Eastvale, Calif.), Hannah Bilka (Coppell, Texas), Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.), Britta Curl (Bismarck, N.D.), Lacey Eden (Annapolis, Md.), Aerin Frankel (Chappaqua, N.Y.), Rory Guilday (Minnetonka, Minn.), Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove, Ill.), Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H.), Taylor Heise (Lake City, Minn.), Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.), Tessa Janecke (Orangeville, Ill.), Megan Keller (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho), Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill.), Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.), Hayley Scamurra (Getzville, N.Y.) and Haley Winn (Rochester, N.Y.).

5: Number of newcomers that will be making their U.S. Women's National Team debut at an international tournament. Joy Dunne (O’Fallon, Mo.), Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights, Ohio), Sydney Morrow (Dairen, Conn.), Gwyneth Philips (Athens, Ohio) and Kirsten Simms (Plymouth, Mich.) will don the red, white and blue for the first time. 

2: Number of national team players returning to the roster. Three-time Olympian Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) returns to the U.S. Women’s National Team following maternity leave, as does Grace Zumwinkle (Excelsior, Minn.) after a season, both of whom were members of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team.

10: Number of colleges programs players either currently play for or played for previously. Members of the national team represent the University of Wisconsin, Northeastern University, University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, Boston College, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Lindenwood University and Penn State University.  

After a four-day evaluation camp, today marked the final push to make the U.S. Women’s National Team. Thirty-nine players attending evaluation camp that consisted of practices and scrimmages over the week. The 25-play team is expected to be named Sunday morning. 

As a final evaluation tool for the coaching staff, the players suited up against Czechia for a pre-tournament scrimmage at the Lake Placid Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York.