3-time Olympian Brianna Decker retires from U.S. women's national hockey team

Three-time Olympian Brianna Decker announced her retirement from the United States national hockey team on Thursday, ending a career in which she ranks third among American women players in world championship tournament points.

The forward from Wisconsin was a core member of USA Hockey's next generation of female players, who built on the success of their trail-blazing predecessors. She was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea — the U.S.`s second to win a title after the 1998 Nagano Games, when women's hockey made its Olympic debut.

The 31-year-old Decker also won Olympic silver medals in 2014 and 2022, along with six world championship titles. She made her national team debut with the Under-18 squad in 2008, and competed in her first world championship in 2011.

"Representing USA Hockey as a member of Team USA has been the honour of a lifetime," Decker said in a USA Hockey release announcing her retirement.

"Hockey has given me opportunities I could only dream of as a young kid just learning to skate. Playing hockey first started as a way to keep up with my brother's, but turned into my life's passion," she added. "I'm proud to have taken the ice with so many incredible teammates, and thank them, my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the years."

Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion <a href="https://twitter.com/Bdecker14?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bdecker14</a> announces her retirement today after a legendary career.<br><br>Today we celebrate you, Brianna! <br><br>Details → <a href="https://t.co/fFvURpOgHl">https://t.co/fFvURpOgHl</a> <a href="https://t.co/Niui4TGWEd">pic.twitter.com/Niui4TGWEd</a>

Decker's announcement comes 13 months after her