There are many reasons to be excited for the incoming 2025-26 rookie class in NCAA women's hockey. It's another look at the next generation of talent entering college and eventually heading to the PWHL. This year however, there's also a significant group of international talent heading to the NCAA with star players from 14 different national programs heading to the NCAA. 

Among those are many senior national team players from Czechia, Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Finland who will all become Olympians this year. 

Here's a look at 20 NCAA rookies to watch this season:

1. Adela Sapovalivova - Wisconsin

One of Europe's top players, Sapovalivova will step in and make an immediate impact on a powerhouse team. She could land on one of Wisconsin's top two lines using her slick hands and skating. She's small but mighty, and has been in Czechia's top six internationally for multiple years despite the fact Czechia's roster is now laden with PWHL players.

2. Stryker Zablocki - Northeastern

Zablocki is a dynamic forward with an abundance of speed. She should blossom into one of the NCAA's top players in short order giving Northeastern a new superstar in the making.

3. Sara Manness - Clarkson

An incredibly intelligent two-way player, Manness is a forward who could find her way in the running for Canada's senior national team by the time she's midway through her college career. She does it all.

4. Hilda Svensson - Ohio State 

Headlining an incredible cohort of talent from all corners of the globe heading to Ohio State is Hilda Svensson. Svensson is already one of Europe's top players and one of Sweden's top threats internationally.

5. Tereza Plosova - Minnesota

Plosova continues to grow her role with Czechia's national team using her size and speed to her advantage.

6. Sanni Vanhanen - Ohio State

Few players are bringing the pro and international experience to the NCAA that Vanhanen does. She's excelled as a long time member of Finland's national team, and was stellar last season in the SDHL.

7. Jenna Raunio - Ohio State

Already a member of Sweden's top four, Raunio is a standout blueliner who has honed her craft in the SDHL, and looks ready to contribute at both ends of the ice immediately much like Swedish teammate Mira Jungaker did last season with Ohio State.

8. Rhyah Stewart - Wisconsin

Coming off a season of men's Junior A hockey, Stewart could be Canada's goalie of the future. She'll play with and against the best at Wisconsin.

9. Maxine Cimoroni - Ohio State

Physical, smart, capable of a two-way game but while producing at a high rate. Cimoroni is one of Canada's best young players.

10. Maxim Tremblay - Boston College

A power forward with an edge who loves to shoot the puck, Tremblay could be Boston College's top scorer sooner than later.

11. Manon Le Scondan - Clarkson

Coming to the NCAA as an older player, Manon Le Scondan could step forward and make an impact from day one. She's a member of France's national team, and her development in the NCAA will be closely watched alongside her French teammate Jade Barbirati at Quinnipiac, as it will be crucial for France to take a step forward internationally.

12. Bella Fanale - Minnesota

One of the top scorers and most consistent players for three consecutive U-18 World Championships with Team USA, Fanale will be a key to Minnesota's attack for the next four seasons.

13. Danica Maynard - Penn State 

If Maynard isn't a player you've seen before, prepare to be wowed. The smooth skating defender sees the ice well and can transition pucks up ice, or evade even the most skilled forechecker with ease. She's on the small side, but her skill is oversized.

14. Megan Healey - Princeton

A strong incoming class to Princeton will continue this program's upward trajectory nationally. Healey sees the ice so well from the back end and has gained three years of experience with USA's U-18 national team.

15. Rylan Haslam - St. Lawrence

All Haslam does is score and produce. She's been overlooked by Canada's national U-18 program, but she finds ways to put her mark on every game she plays.

16. Tatiana Blichova - Lindenwood

There are better players entering NCAA hockey not on this list, but Blichova represents a group of incoming Slovakian players to the NCAA who will shift the fate of their national program. Who don't even know the ceiling for these Slovak players because there weren't any in the NCAA in recent years.

17. Sienna D'Alessandro - Minnesota

Big, powerful, with a hard shot. D'Alessandro is versatile, and should be ready to contribute immediately if given the chance.

18. Dorothy Copetti - Colgate

Colgate's incoming cohort is loaded with offensive talent up front and on the blueline. Copetti consistently finds ways to score. She protects the puck well, and has a pure goal scorers confidence about her game.

19. Tara Bach - Mercyhurst 

Heading to the NCAA a year early, Bach could be Germany's goalie of the future. She's Canadian trained, but in terms of her international importance, for Germany, she's a must watch.

20. Naemi Herzig, Holy Cross

Herzig is one of Switzerland's best hopes to reload alongside Alina Muller and Lara Stalder. Her nation needs another contributor, and Herzig could be the answer.

Other NCAA Rookies To Watch:

• Ava Thomas, Boston College
• Lexie Bertelsen, Boston University
• Livia Debnarova, Holy Cross
• Alex Therien, New Hampshire
• Molly Farace, Providence
• Aneta Senkova, Clarkson
• Kate Manness, Clarkson
• Emma Beauchamp, Colgate
• Sydney Sawyer, Colgate
• Taylor Senecal, Colgate
• Ava Wood, Colgate
• London McDavid, Cornell
• Morgan McGathey, Harvard
• Emilia Biotti, Harvard
• Caroline Averill, Princeton
• Ellie Dimatos, Princeton
• Riley Sorokan, Princeton
• Molly Boyle, Yale
• Layla Hemp, Minnesota
• Linnea Natt och Dag, Minnesota-Duluth
• Madison Burr, Minnesota-Duluth
• Kassidy Carmichael, Ohio State
• Macy Rasmussen, Ohio State
• Leah Wicks, Ohio State
• Sydney Lamb, St. Cloud State
• Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Wisconsin
• Rachel Gorbatenko, Wisconsin
• Nicole Gorbatenko, Wisconsin
• Claudia Castellanos, Lindenwood
• Michaela Paulinyova, Lindenwood
• Maja Alenius, Mercyhurst
• Matilde Fantin, Penn State
• Sophie Morrow, Penn State
• Kolbee Ashe, RIT
• Ava Drabyk, Syracuse
• Laura Nagy, Long Island