As we celebrate 40 years of women’s bandy in the United States, we’re proud to be yet again sending a US Women’s National Team to the global stage. The roster is final, and the group is ready to compete in the 2023 Women’s Bandy World Championship, which will take place March 29- April 2nd in Växjö, Sweden. Sound familiar? It is! Växjö was the site of the 2022 World Championship, and the team can’t wait to return to the beautiful city. The USA program is thrilled that, once again, the Federation of International Bandy (FIB) decided to host back-to-back women’s tournaments. This is a big step in growing the women’s game and bringing women onto an equal playing field with their male counterparts.

In 2022 the USA women fell just short of the bronze medal, heroically overcoming injuries that left them with just 11 skaters for their final games. The 2023 squad consists of 2 veteran goaltenders and 9 veteran skaters and will be joined by 5 talented rookies eager to make their world championship debut. Their collective goal is to reach the medal podium for the first time in program history and to achieve this goal, they have been training since June, both on and off the ice. 

Outstanding veteran goaltenders Sarah Ahlquist (6 World Championships) and Marah Sobczak (3 World Championships), together with intelligent and physical fullbacks Becky Draper (4 World Championships- named best defender in 2022 WC), Mikayla Rogers (4 World Championships), Mollie Zemaitis (3 World Championships) and Briana Carlson (3 World Championships), lead a strong US defense.

The US halfbacks consist of two veteran players, both offensive catalysts and proven goal scorers, Amy Stech (5 WCs) and Kalli Funk (3 WCs). They are joined by newcomer Hannah Behounek, a D1 college hockey player, who is savvy and skilled.

Leading the way in the US midfield is Tam Meuswissen (3 World Championships), a skilled and fearless player who is also a world ranked crashed ice skater. She will be joined by 3 exciting newcomers, each of whom played D1 college hockey and have quickly adapted to bandy, Ellie Larson, Katie Noonan, and Corrine Henning

Up top, playing forward, is smooth skating 2022 veterans Jordan Schildhaus (1 World Championship - 3 goals scored in 2022) and Taylor Meyers (1 World Championship), together with a powerful newcomer and former D1 college hockey player, Mallory Yorkson.

Team USA's head coach for the second straight World Championships is Chris Middlebrook. He has worked with the USA women since 2017, both on the ice and in off-ice skills training, to help improve all aspects of individual and team play. Joining him as an assistant coach for their second World Championship coaching together is USA bandy great Daren Richardson, who will be coaching the USA women and skating for the USA in the men's tournament (an international bandy first).

Off-ice leadership for the USA Women will again be General Manager Magnus Skold, a 42-year international and US bandy icon, and exceptional Team Manager Katie Swor, her fifth World Championship in this vital role. The team athletic trainer, in addition to skating for the US Women, is Taylor Meyers, who is a professional Chiropractor 

All the members of the 2023 US Women's National Team are proud and excited to be representing US Bandy as high-level competitors on the ice and as ambassadors of the sport and goodwill off the ice.

2023 WOMEN’S BANDY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE – TEAM USA

(all times local to Åby, Sweden. Minnesota is 7 hours behind Sweden)

Wednesday, March 29

10 am USA vs Finland

7 pm USA vs Sweden

Thursday, March 30 

12:30 pm USA vs Finland

Friday, March 31

10 am USA vs Sweden

Saturday, April 1

2 pm Semifinal (TBD) 

Sunday, April 2

7:45 am Bronze Medal Match                          

1 pm Gold Medal Match