The French women's national team France will celebrate a historic premiere at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina: For the first time ever, France will participate in the women's Olympic ice hockey tournament.
While Germany, Sweden, and Japan are considered favorites for the quarterfinal spots, France and Italy must upset at least one of the top contenders and win their head-to-head match to advance. Regardless of their final standing, Olympic qualification is a significant step for the development of women's ice hockey in France. France is currently ranked 14th in the IIHF world rankings.
Key players / Players to watch
France's hopes rest primarily on an experienced offensive core. Estelle Duvin is considered the team's outstanding all-around player and plays a central role both on and off the ice. Alongside her are Clara Rozier, Chloé Aurard-Bushee, and Lore Baudrit. Aurard-Bushee brings valuable international experience from several seasons at the highest level, including in the PWHL, and is accustomed to competing against top players. This quartet can pose a problem for any team in Group B, even though most of the players are active in comparatively weaker European leagues.
France is relying on Alice Philbert in goal, who is competing in only her second major international tournament at the Olympic Games. The Quebec-trained goalie played for five years at Concordia University, was twice selected to the RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec/Quebec University Sports Association) All-Star Team, and subsequently gained experience playing men's ice hockey in France. This season, she has impressed with consistently strong performances in the EWHL with the EV Bozen Eagles. For France to be competitive, Philbert will need to play almost flawlessly, but she is considered the best goalie France has had in years.
The next generation of players is expected to provide additional impetus. Jade Barbirati and Manon Le Scodan, two talented players, made the jump to the NCAA this season and impressed early on. Le Scodan, as a rookie for Clarkson University, scored 26 points in 28 games before departing for the Olympics and has the potential to become a game-changer. This cohort is complemented by Julia Mesplède and the 17-year-old Clémence Boudine, who will bring additional speed and creativity to the roster.
France's biggest challenge lies in its defense. The defense lacks both the depth and international experience to consistently compete with the tournament's most potent offensive powerhouses. Gabrielle De Serres and Margot Huot-Marchand are the most experienced defenders, but they have primarily played in leagues without regular exposure to world-class players. While the roster includes players from the NCAA and Canadian university leagues, only Lucie Quarto (Lindenwood University/NCAA) currently receives consistent ice time at a higher level. Against top offenses, France will therefore rely heavily on team cohesion.
Analysis and outlook for the duel with Germany
The duel with Germany gains particular significance due to several personnel overlaps: Léa Villiot and Lore Baudrit, both currently active in Ingolstadt, will face current and former teammates such as Celina Haider, Katharina Häckelsmiller and Luisa Hemmerle, as well as numerous competitors from the German Women's Ice Hockey League (DFEL).
The most recent direct comparisons clearly favor Germany. Regarding... Deutschland Cup In 2025 in Landshut, France lost 2-3 in a penalty shootout, and in 2024 they suffered a 1-4 defeat. The two teams had already met in the World Championship's top division in 2023, where Germany secured a comfortable 3-0 victory. France had previously been relegated from the top division in 2019 despite a 3-2 overtime win against Germany.
For France, the main goal at the Olympic Games is to perform at the highest level and gain valuable experience. Against Germany, the team will try to counter with pace, commitment, and occasional counterattacks from their experienced attacking core. For the German women's national team, on the other hand, the challenge is to live up to their role as favorites, play with structure, and exploit the French defensive weaknesses early on.