Former Wisconsin Badgers star Brianna Decker elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame

Brianna Decker during a 2013 game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.Photo byElliott Connor/Wikimedia Commons

Brianna Decker had a remarkable career as an ice hockey player. She would reach the pinnacles of success in the sport at the collegiate, professional and international levels. And she has now earned another accolade.

Decker has been chosen to be among the 2024 class of enrhinees in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Others in the class include former NHL players Matt Cullen and Kevin Stevens.

A native of Dousman, Wisconsin in the Milwaukee region, Decker played at the high school level for Stattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. For college hockey, she returned home to play for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Decker would eventually be chosen as the team captain of the Wisconsin Badgers. With the program, she won the 2011 National Championship. She was also the receipient of the Patty Kasmaier Award, the highest individual honor in women's college ice hockey, in 2012.

On the pro side, Brianna Decker played in both the National Women's Hockey League and the Canadian Women's Hockey League. In the CWHL, she led the now-Worcester Blades and the Calgary Inferno to Clarkson Cup Championships in 2015 and 2019.

Decker made history as the first player to notch a hat trick in the NWHL, doing so with the Boston Pride. She also helped the Pride win the 2016 NWHL Championship and was a two-time MVP of the league.

Internationally, Decker was a mainstay with Team USA. With the U-18, squad she won the 2009 World Championship. At the senior level, she was a member of Team USA when it won the 2018 Olympic gold medal and six World Championships.

Decker has also gone into coaching. Including serving as an assistant with the 2020 World Champion U-18 United States team.