Whether you’re a big hockey fan or not, you probably know what went down during the women’s gold medal match at the 2018 Winter Olympics. You know, the one where the US women’s hockey team won their first gold medal in 20 years after defeating Canada in a sudden-death shoot-out. That historic win wouldn’t have been possible without goalkeeper Maddie Rooney, who made 29 saves during the match to help put Team USA on top. It was such an impressive showing that someone edited Rooney’s Wikipedia page, changing her position from “goaltender” to “Secretary of Defense.”
In Beijing, Rooney has split the goaltending duties with longtime teammates Alex Cavallini and Nicole Hensley — but regardless of who’s in the net when the US faces off against Canada once again, Rooney has already cemented her legacy. And she’s had a lot of fun along the way. The two-time Olympian and world champion told USA Hockey that this has been a constant in her career — she plays her best hockey when she’s having fun. Here’s what else you should know about one of Team USA’s brightest (and most intimidating) stars.