Team USA legend Brianna Decker announces retirement

After an illustrious career spanning nearly 15 years, U.S. National Team forward Brianna Decker announced her retirement Thursday morning.

Decker tweeted a statement via her personal Twitter account, as well as providing a release via USA Hockey.

The 31-year-old native of Dousman, Wis., began her career with Team USA in 2008, translating that into eight Worlds medals (six of them gold) and three Olympic medals, including a gold medal in 2018's campaign in Pyeongchang. Over the course of her years with the national program, she amassed a total of 81 goals and 89 assists over 147 games. She ranks third in total Worlds points (68) and fourth in assists (40) amongst American women's players.

Decker also enjoyed a tremendous career at the University of Wisconsin with a Patty Kazmeier Award in 2012 and a total of 244 total points (115 G, 129 A) over 143 games played. From there, she transitioned into both international and professional play, winning Clarkson Cups with the Boston Blades and Calgary Inferno in 2015 and 2018 respectively in the Canadian Women's Hockey League. In between, she also won an Isobel Cup in 2016 as a member of the Boston Pride in the inaugural season of the PHF (then known as the National Women's Hockey League).

Decker then became part of the PWHPA as that labor movement worked to create a more sustainable women's league, before suffering a serious injury to her fibula and ankle in a round-robin game at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Since then, she has been coaching and rejoined the PHF as a player development advisor, as well as assistant coaching for Team USA's U18 program and at her alma mater Shattuck- St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn.

Brianna Decker has long been in my eyes one of the most valuable and important players on Team USA and a player who excelled year in and year out on the ice. Being able to watch her play in person is an honor I don't take for granted, and she has earned her spot as one of the most impactful women's players of this era. Congratulations on an incredible playing career, Decks, and best wishes to you in the next phase of your life within hockey.