UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Caroline Harvey already solidified herself as one of the very best women’s hockey players in the world after turning heads and winning MVP at the Milan Olympics last month.

Now, Harvey can officially call herself the top player in women’s college hockey this season, as she was named the winner of the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Award on Saturday afternoon. She is just the third defender to win the award, following Angela Ruggiero (Harvard) and Sophie Jaques (Ohio State).

“You’re in shock a bit,” Harvey said about hearing her name called. “I couldn’t do it without my family, my friends, teammates — (I’m) just super grateful and honored, to say the least.”

Harvey was a top-three finalist for the award last year and ultimately lost to Wisconsin teammate and 2025 PWHL No. 3 pick Casey O’Brien. But Harvey could not be denied this season.

She was named WCHA Player and Defender of the Year and leads all defenders in the NCAA with an absurd 63 points in 32 games. Harvey’s 1.97 points per game is second in the nation, behind only Minnesota’s Abbey Murphy (2.13), a forward.

It’s also one of the most productive seasons by a natural blueliner in the history of women’s college hockey. Harvey’s 63 points this season rank second all-time by a defender, behind only a Hockey Hall of Fame legend in Ruggiero, who scored an untouchable 83 points in 34 games for Harvard in 2002-03. Harvey is also second all-time in career points by a defender with 200 in 146 games, again behind Ruggerio, who said in an interview with The Athletic that Harvey “has the potential to revolutionize the game.”

The powerhouse Wisconsin Badgers are the No. 2 seed at the Frozen Four this weekend and have the best offense in the NCAA. No team has scored more goals this season than Wisconsin’s 210, which is 31 more than second-place Ohio State (179). Only Penn State had a better defense than Wisconsin, which has allowed just 1.45 goals against per game.

As captain in her senior season, Harvey, the team’s No. 1 defender, has been a major driver of the Badgers’ success.

At 23 years old, she is already the most offensively gifted defender in women’s hockey and the most likely No. 1 pick in the upcoming Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. Harvey is deceptive with the puck on the offensive blue line with incredible vision — her 1.41 assists per game leads the NCAA this season — but it’s her skating that makes Harvey special.

“I haven’t seen a player with Caroline’s speed at the blue line,” said longtime Wisconsin associate coach Dan Koch. “Then her ability to add the offensive side too is really unique. It’s hard to compare her to anyone else in the past.”

On Friday, in the national semifinal against tournament host Penn State, Harvey logged big minutes and set up Kirsten Simms, who scored the overtime winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory. Now, the No. 2-ranked Badgers are heading to a fourth straight national championship game against Ohio State, where Harvey will play a starring role in her final collegiate hockey game.

“Obviously it’s been super exciting these last couple of months,” Harvey said about winning Olympic gold, tournament MVP and now the Patty Kaz. “But all that matters is tomorrow’s championship game.

“We want to bring that natty back to Madison.”

Forwards Murphy (Minnesota) and Tessa Janecke (Penn State) were the other two finalists for the Patty Kazmaier this season. Both seniors are expected to be first-round picks in the PWHL Draft, alongside top 10 Patty Kaz finalists — and Wisconsin forwards — Lacey Eden, Laila Edwards and Simms.

The three finalists and winner were selected by a 13-person selection committee made up of coaches, print and broadcast media and a USA Hockey representative.

Editor’s note: The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian served on the Patty Kazmaier Award selection committee this season.