Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1541160
B ET W E E N T H E P I P ES P R E S E N T E D B Y CHARGING AHEAD G WYNETH PHILIPS LOOKED ONTO THE ICE as her teammate Aerin Frankel was being attended to by the U.S. Women's National Team training staff. Meanwhile, she glanced down the bench and saw John Wroblewski, head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team, motioning for her to start warming up. There was still more than 15 minutes left in the g old- medal game of the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d Canada were tied at 2-2. " Yo u w a n t t o t a l k a b o u t nerves?" Philips recalled dur- ing a training camp with the U.S. Women's National Team. "I was nervous. I was cold. I played one game at worlds ever before then. "I just tried to go out there with an all-out mindset. I can just do the best I can do. And that kind of let me get comfortable in the situation, and then I can play well instead of just psyching myself out saying, 'I have to play perfect.' Philips was in fact nearly perfect. The now 25-year-old made 17 saves, including 10 in overtime, as the U.S. Women's National Team defeated Canada, 4-3, for its 11th gold medal in tournament history. "I didn't envision myself eating a Rice Krispies one second and playing in a gold-medal game the next," Philips said in laughter. "I didn't have one during that situation. But (that moment) was definitely not what I pictured. " I 'm s u r e my t e a m m a t e s were freaking out too. But they were all trying to ease me and hype me up. So, that took a lot of the stress off of me." It was only a sign of things to come for Philips.The rook- ie g oaltender in the PWHL helped push the Ottawa Charge to the 2025 Walter Cup Final against the Minnesota Frost a few weeks later. "I'm obsessed with her," Ottawa team- mate Gabbie Hughes said. "She is so good. Even in practices, it is unbelievable what she does. I am jaw-dropped at times and think, 'Oh my gosh.'" 30 // NOV/DEC 2025 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Getty Images; Images On Ice Gwyneth Philips Admits Even The Pros Still Can Have Nerves Before A Game, And That's OK By JUSTIN FELISKO It's totally natural to have some butterflies before a game, I certainly do."