Switzerland beat Sweden in the bronze medal game of the 2026 Olympics in Milan to capture the win. Their bronze medal win looked like a moment that would send Switzerland's national program on a steady upward trajectory. 

Since then however, the Swiss have struggled mightily at Women's Euro Hockey Tour stops. Those issues were compounded at Switzerland's final stop on the tour in the absence of captain Lara Stalder who will miss the next two months due to a knee injury.

Still, no one will ever count out the Swiss as a competitive team that gets timely goaltending and scoring. Alina Muller, who will play this season with PWHL Hamilton, headlines those efforts, as does PWHL Detroit netminder Andrea Brandli.

Along with their veteran forwards, who primarily come from the domestic PostFinance Women's League, Switzerland has a developing young core in Ivana Wey, Norina Muller, and Naemi Herzig who are providing hope up front. 

Few could have anticipated how impactful the absence of Lara Christen on the blueline would be. Christen retired from Switzerland's national team at only 23, but she'd been their best defender in recent international play. Their blueline this year will rely more heavily on New York Sirens defender Nicole Vallario and Northeastern blueliner Alessia Baechler.

Overall, the new holes poked in Switzerland's roster have exposed their depth. Will new players step up, or is Switzerland in for a fall at this World Championship tournament.

Norina Muller is Switzerland's top scorer in their PostFinance Women's League with 11 goals and 24 points in 11 games as an 18-year-old. She hasn't announced an NCAA commitment year, but Switzerland needs her to go to North America to continue her development. This season, without Stalder, Muller may be elevated and given the opportunity to step into the spotlight for her nation.

Lucie Tenenbaum is set to make her World Championship debut for the Swiss. She's in her second season of NCAA hockey at Minnesota State, and with Christen out, is a player Switzerland will hope can step in and fill a portion of that gap. 

Beyond this young duo, all eyes will be on Switzerland's goaltending duo of Andrea Brandli and Saskia Maurer, and on veterans who remain in Europe but may eye the PWHL in the future such as Rahel Enzler and Sinja Leeman.

Given the absence of Lara Stalder and Lara Christen, and the losses Switzerland has experienced at Women's Euro Hockey Tour stops this season, it would be surprising to see the Swiss medal as they did in Milan. Still, they're considered a top six team that will remain in the bronze medal hunt against nations like Finland, Czechia, and Sweden. Winning a medal in Denmark would require multiple upsets for the Swiss based on recent play.

Goalkeepers (3): Andrea Brändli, Saskia Maurer, Chiara Pfosi.

Defenders (8): Alessia Baechler, Mara Frey, Nina Harju, Laure Mériguet, Alena Lynn Rossel, Lucie Tenenbaum, Nicole Vallario, Stefanie Wetli.

Forwards (14): Leoni Balzer, Elisa Dalessi, Rahel Enzler, Nora Harju, Naemi Herzig, Sinja Leemann, Ilana Leibundgut, Jael Manetsch, Alina Marti, Alina Müller, Norina Müller, Luisa Waser, Ivana Wey, Laura Zimmermann.