Will Hilary Knight be in the next Olympics? What USA captain has said about potential retirement, French Alps 2030

In many ways, it's hard to picture a Team USA women's hockey team without Hilary Knight.

Not only is Knight the captain of a U.S. program that has medalled at eight-straight Winter Olympics — five of which she's now been a part of — but over her Olympic career since 2010, Knight has also broken the records for all-time women's hockey goals and points in U.S. history.

However, now 36 years old, Knight has been competing in her fifth Winter Olympics in Milan. A sixth Olympics would mean she's taking the international ice at 40 years old in 2030, when the Winter Games head to France.

Will Knight be participating in the 2030 Winter Olympics? Here's what she's said about her Olympic future.

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Will Hilary Knight be in the next Olympics?

Hilary Knight will not be participating in the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. The 2026 Winter Games in Milan are her fifth, and final, appearance in the competition.

Knight announced in May 2025 that her appearance in Milan would be her last Olympics.

"It's time," Knight said, per Olympics.com. “I have grown up in this program and it’s just given me so much. I’m at peace. And I’m grateful that, hopefully I can stay healthy, I can go out when I’d like to be done. That is such a privilege.”

Knight is 36 years old; she made her Team USA debut at age 17 in the 2006 Four Nations Cup. Since then, she's become one of the most decorated women's hockey players ever, winning three Olympic silver medals with the United States (2010, 2014, 2022), an Olympic gold medal in 2018 and 10 world championship titles. Knight holds records for most goals, assists, and points in world championship play, along with the most goals (15) and points (33) by a U.S. women's hockey player in Winter Olympics history.

Hilary Knight, everyone. 🇺🇸 #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/Oas0YmzERP

The U.S. legend's final Winter Olympics game was in Thursday's gold-medal matchup against Canada. She broke United States women's hockey Olympics goals and points records on the big stage — and in her final appearance — in the gold-medal game to tie it at one:

Knight went out in her final Olympics in terrific fashion, putting herself alone in the U.S. record books. After appearances at the 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics, she's now set to retire from Team USA as an all-time great. 

MORE: Results, highlights and more from United States vs. Canada gold-medal matchup