At a Glance
- Team USA women aim for gold in 2026 Winter Olympics after a silver finish in 2022.
- Rising star Angel Zerby, 16, has earned a spot in the USA Hockey development camp in 2024.
- Texas girls’ hockey is expanding, with an 18-percent year-over-year growth and 90 scholarships awarded since 2013.
The United States women’s hockey team is on a mission to improve upon their silver medal from Beijing and bring home gold in 2026 Winter Olympics. At the heart of that ambition is a 16-year-old from North Texas, Angel Zerby, who has already drawn the attention of USA Hockey and is training for the biggest stage in the sport.
Rising Talent: Angel Zerby
Angel Zerby grew up watching her dad take her to a Dallas Stars game. “I decided that it looked cool, and I wanted to try that. So ever since then, he put me in skates,” she said. She learned to skate at eight, began playing hockey at nine, and joined the Dallas Stars Elite traveling team at ten.
She attributes her success to mental toughness. “It’s hard to lose. Honestly, sometimes it’s hard to win when you have to be mentally tough in every scenario,” she explained. These lessons, she says, are worth the effort.
In 2024, Zerby was one of four defensewomen from her region invited to the USA player development camp. “That was a big deal for me. I was just super excited to go and do that,” she added.
Texas Girls’ Hockey Landscape
Texas has only three girls’ teams, with the Dallas Stars Elite being the sole Tier One program. “There’s not really enough for us to play other girls’ teams in Texas regularly,” Zerby noted. This scarcity makes every opportunity to compete at a high level all the more valuable.
The Dallas Stars Hockey programs report an 18-percent increase in girls’ participation year over year. Since 2013, the Stars Elite has helped more than 90 North Texas girls earn scholarships for higher education.
Path to the Olympics
Zerby’s hard work is part of a broader Texas pipeline. Former Stars Elite player Hannah Bilka now plays in the Professional Women’s Hockey League for Seattle and was on the USA Women’s National Team that won the World Championship in 2024. Bilka has been named to Team USA’s roster for the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.
Allyson Simpson, a Frisco native, also played for the Stars Elite early in her career before joining the New York Sirens of the professional league.
These players exemplify the success of the Stars Elite program and its role in developing Olympic-ready talent.
Challenges and Opportunities
Zerby acknowledges that girls still often play with the boys. “While girls like Angel are still playing with the guys… the sport is growing,” she said. The growth is reflected in the increased participation numbers and scholarship opportunities.
Her outlook is optimistic. “We can go at this and be scared, or we can go at this as a challenge and see what we can do,” she said.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Dallas Stars Elite begins awarding scholarships to North Texas girls |
| 2022 | Team USA women win silver at the Beijing Winter Olympics |
| 2024 | Angel Zerby selected for USA Hockey development camp |
| 2026 | Team USA women compete in the Winter Olympics |
Key Takeaways
- Angel Zerby is a standout 16-year-old whose mental toughness and early start in Texas set her on a path to Olympic competition.
- Texas girls’ hockey is expanding, with an 18-percent growth rate and 90 scholarships awarded since 2013.
- Former Stars Elite players like Hannah Bilka and Allyson Simpson demonstrate the program’s track record of producing professional and Olympic-level talent.
- The USA women’s team is aiming for gold in 2026 Winter Olympics, building on lessons learned from their 2022 silver medal finish.
The story of Angel Zerby and her peers highlights the rising prominence of women’s hockey in Texas and the United States, offering a glimpse of the talent that will represent the nation on the world stage.
