Kentucky Phenom Chyna Taylor Leading Team USA’s Charge at U18 Worlds

Sixteen-year-old defensive sensation Chyna Taylor is proving why she’s the future of American hockey, fresh off a historic scoring run at Lovell Academy and a dominant start in Nova Scotia.

Fiki Purnama

SYDNEY, Nova Scotia — The name on everyone’s lips at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship isn’t from a traditional hockey hotbed like Minnesota or Massachusetts. It’s Chyna Taylor, a 16-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky.

Taylor, who recently made history as the Sports Illustrated Kids 2025 SportsKid of the Year, has been a force on the blue line for Team USA. Playing her club hockey at Lovell Academy in Massachusetts, Taylor arrived at the tournament having already eclipsed 100 points this season—a record-breaking pace for a defenseman. Her ability to quarterback the power play and shut down elite attackers has many scouts calling her the “next great one” in the women’s game.