2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship Preview, Predictions
Here we go!
The top players from around the world descend to Czechia for the annual event that sees them represent their countries in the quest for ultimate bragging rights in the 2025 IIHF Wome’s World Championship.
Last year, Canada was able to take down the United States on enemy ice in Utica last year. In the first European edition of the tournament in three years, both teams are hoping they can bring another gold medal home.
Let’s look at how the nations are shaping up heading into Ceske Budejovice from April 9-20:
Group A
Canada
The winningest country in the history of the Women’s Worlds is looking to take home the title once again.
They bring back a ton of talent, led by captain Marie-Philip Poulin. Jocelyne Larocque and Renata Fast will be back together after being torn apart when Larocque was traded by the Toronto Sceptres to the Ottawa Charge back in December.
There are a couple of question marks with this team heading into Czechia, especially between the pipes. All-world goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens suffered an injury while with the Montreal Victoire on March 18, and hasn’t played since. Yet, Hockey Canada put her on the roster with the hopes she could return to the lineup at some point during the tournament.
That means Troy Ryan must rely on his Sceptres goaltender, Kristen Campbell, and Minnesota Duluth standout Eve Gascon for the opening stage. While both have experience playing for Team Canada, neither has ever seen game action at the Women’s Worlds.
That said, Canada has the firepower to score their way out of problems against teams not named the United States.
Canada begins play on the tournament’s second day, taking on Finland on Thursday.
Czechia
I know I’ve said it multiple times in the past, but this is certainly the golden age of women’s hockey in Czechia. After years of struggling to compete against the top nations in the world, the Czechs have at least made it to the bronze medal game in each of the last three world championships.
Now, heading into the first-ever Women’s Worlds to be held in their home nation, the team is searching for more.
Captained by Montreal Victoire defender Aneta Tejralova, the Czechs have a solid blue line filled with pro talent. Though Dominika Laskova and Daniela Pejsova have been under-utilized by their respective PWHL teams, they still bring a load of experience to the back end.
Then there’s the forward group, led by Ottawa Charge star (and potential MVP candidate) Tereza Vanisova. The veteran has been a big-time player for the Charge, sitting tied for second in the PWHL with 15 goals. The Czechs have a solid youth movement with players like Tereza Plosova and Adela Sapovalivova, along with college stars Kristyna Kaltounkova and Natalie Mlynkova – the all-time leader in goals by a Czech player at the Women’s Worlds..
If they can get the right players to step up, bronze might not be the only medal the Czechs have within their grasps.
The Czechs open up their tournament against Switzerland on Wednesday.
Finland
The Finns were finally able to end a three-year medal-less drought in Utica, beating Czechia to win the bronze.
Now, the team is back, hoping to stay in the medal conversation. They have the offensive talent to make it as far as the semifinals with a couple of key pieces on the back end.
While many have criticized how New York Sirens coach Greg Fargo has used her this season, you know Noora Tulus has the ability to be a big-time player for the Lady Lions. They also have the three top scorers in the SDHL. Petra Nieminen led the league with 25 goals and tied for first with 45 points, while Luleå HF teammate Viivi Vainkiika finished third with 44 points. Elisa Holopainen had a big year with Frolunda, helping the team with the SDHL title while finishing tied with Nieminen with 45 points.
Oh, did I forget to mention that Fleet star Susanna Tapani is quietly tied for fifth in the PWHL in goals? Yeah, she’s due for a big tournament as well.
While their D-Crops is headlined by Charge defender Ronja Savolainen, a lot of the defensive weight will be on the shoulders of netminder Sanni Ahola. A veteran of the international game, she’s coming off a solid year at St. Cloud State (NCAA), earning All-WCHA Third-Team honors.
The Finns get a tough matchup right off the hop, facing the U.S. on Wednesday.
Switzerland
While there are a couple of star players on the roster, it might be tough for Switzerland to get back to the final four after finishing fifth last year.
Of course, all eyes will be on Alina Muller. The face of Swiss hockey for the last half-decade is having a great season with the Boston Fleet, playing with a lot more confidence after finding her footing in year one of pro hockey in North America.
She will, once again, be flanked by the consummate pro, Lara Stalder. After helping the EVZ Women’s Team earn promotion to the top women’s league in Switzerland, she finished fourth in the SWHL A with 50 points, just behind teammate Rahel Enzler, who was impressive in her return home after four years at the University of Maine.
With a relatively young blueline, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on goaltender Andrea Brändli. While some speculate the 27-year-old jumping to the PWHL this year, Brändli has been known to be a big-time player, even when her team is heavily outmatched.
The Swiss have the honor of facing the hosts, Czechia, on Wednesday night.
United States
After losing in the gold medal game on home ice, you know the United States is hungry to get revenge this time around.
Like last year, there is a healthy mix of veterans and young stars. While captain Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Megan Keller are back, a ton of talented players who have been dominating the college ranks will be the key to the Americans’ success.
Led by last year’s world championship MVP, Laila Edwards, the U.S. is showing that the future is now with fellow Wisconsin Badgers Kirsten Simms, Caroline Harvey and Patty Kazmaier Award winner Casey O’Brien ready to be big-time players. Almost forgot to mention Minnesota’s Abbey Murphy, who finished second in the country in goals (33) behind Edwards.
Like she has been the last few years, Aerin Frankel will backstop the U.S. The 25-year-old is having an MVP-caliber season for the Boston Fleet, and could be the deciding factor in whether the Americans win gold.
The Americans begin their quest for gold on Wednesday when they take on Finland.
Group B
Germany
Germany enters this world championship with loads of confidence and elevated expectations compared to years past.
A year ago in Utica, the team won Group B for the first time since their run to the semifinals in 2017, finishing sixth overall. Then, Träger der Adler managed to narrowly finish atop Group I to qualify for the Winter Olympics for the first time since Sochi in 2014.
The best part for Germany is that most of the players that were on last year’s team and the Olympic qualifying roster will be heading to Czechia. Laura Kluge, who has seen some playing time with the Toronto Sceptres, will be skating with the Welcke twins, Lilli and Luisa, and Emily Nix, who made the jump to the SDHL, playing for SDE HF this past season.
Everyone will be curious to see if Sandra Abstreiter can perform to the level she was at last year in Utica. The Victoire netminder went 3-2 wth a 1.19 goals-against average and .950 save percentage, being named the tournament’s top goaltender. However, similar to last year, she hasn’t played at all for Montreal in the PWHL, sitting behind Desbiens and Gwyneth Philips on the depth chart.
The Germans will partake in the opening game of the tournament on Wednesday, going up against Sweden.
Hungary
After a brief spell in Division IA, the Hungarians are back in the top division at the Women’s Worlds. However, it will be tough sledding for the team to avoid relegation, even though this team earned a reputation as being a sneaky team during its first stint in the top tier.
On the back end, there is some respectable talent. Toronto-born Taylor Baker started the year with the New York Sirens but ended up signing a contract with Brynäs after appearing in just three games. The former Force de Montreal defender has played for Hungary in the last three world championship seasons.
She hopes to help out goaltender Aniko Nemeth, the veteran netminder who has played most of the games for Hungary dating back to 2012, helping the nation go all the way from DIIA to the top division.
Fanni Garat-Gasparics is hoping to be an impact player after not playing for Hungary at the DIA Worlds last year. One of the top players from the 2021 edition of the tournament, the former PWHL Ottawa member played with Baker at Brynäs this past season, the team she signed with late in the 2023-24 campaign.
Hungary is off from the opening day of the tournament, jumping into action on Thursday against Sweden.
Japan
This generation of Japanese women’s hockey is the best in the country’s history. They have managed to put forth some respectable efforts in recent years, though the team has never made it beyond the quarterfinals.
This year’s roster consists of many international veterans with plenty of professional talent to boot. Former PWHL Ottawa member Akane Shiga has been one of Japan’s stars in recent years and was a key reason why the team qualified for the Olympics, registering six points in the final stage of qualification. With Luleå HF, she scored 31 points during the regular season, as her team ended up losing in the SDHL final to Frölunda HC.
Yumeka Wajima scored five goals during qualification and is hoping to score her first point in her fourth world championship appearance. In net, the Japanese will look to rely on Miyuu Masuhara, who played great during the Olympic qualifiers and has been the team’s No. 1 for the past few years.
Last year’s team squeaked into the knockout stage with a single regulation win, but have the hopes of being more of a threat in Czechia.
Japan will have a chance to get some early points on Wednesday when it faces Norway.
Norway
Certainly the biggest underdog heading into the tournament, the Norwegians are in the top division for the first time since 1997, just the fourth edition of the Women’s Worlds. Since then, they’ve meddled around DII and DI, finally earning promotion after going unbeaten during the DIA championships last year.
As you’d expect with a lower team, any success will be based on the play of their goaltender. Ena Nystrøm was a great goaltender during her time at Mercyhurst (NCAA), helping the team earn a big to the national tournament in 2020 (which was canceled thanks to COVID. The 24-year-old had a solid rookie campaign with Brynäs, going 15-13-0, finishing 10th in the SDHL in GAA (2.44) and SV% (.917).
Offense will be scarce for the Norwegians, but keep an eye out for Andrea Dalen, who is coming off winning the SDHL Championship with Frolunda. Millie Rose Sirum has the tendency to put the puck in the back of the net, something she’s shown over her five-year NCAA career at Holy Cross and Providence, potting 19 points in 28 games this past year with the Friars.
The Norwegians will go up against Japan in their first game in Czechia on Wednesday.
Sweden
For almost two decades, we’ve wondered if Sweden is going to get back over the hump and get back to the semifinals at the Women’s Worlds, and take them out of Group B. Over the past couple of years, subpar play has led to them facing tough matchups in the quarterfinals, leading to a series of early exits.
This year’s squad has hopes of changing that narrative, thanks to talent spread out across the globe donning their colors. Though they’ll be without New York Sirens defender Maja Nylen Persson due to injury, they have a strong back end with Toronto Sceptres blueliner Anna Kjellbin, along with Paula Bergström, who is coming off winning the SDHL championship with Frölunda.
Hanna Olsson and Sofie Lunding were on that Frölunda team, and were two of the top scorers in the league. Paired up with Lina Ljungblom, who has been a solid depth player for the Montreal Victoire, and the Swedes should be able to stay near the top of the group.
They will once again rely on Emma Söderberg in net. Though she has struggled with the Boston Fleet, she’s been known to steal some games for her country.
Damkronoma hasn’t won Group B since the 2015 tournament. They will try to start group play on the right foot when they face Germany early on Wednesday.
Predictions
Group A
1. United States
2. Canada
3. Czechia
4. Finland
5. Switzerland
Group B
1. Sweden
2. Germany
3. Japan
4. Hungary
5. Norway
Medals
Gold: United States
Silver: Canada
Bronze: Czechia