2026 Olympic Preview: France
The odds are stacked against Olympic newcomer Team France advancing beyond the group stage.
How they got here
The French women's national team punched their ticket to the 2026 Olympics thanks to a solid performance in February 2025 during the final stage of Olympic Qualification. France finished the tournament with two wins and one loss – only Team Japan bested them – and a +6 goal differential. A 9-0 victory over Team Poland and a 4-1 victory over Team China were enough to send the French to Italy.
Last Olympics
This is Team France's first appearance in the Winter Olympic Games.
Melissa Burgess
Storyline
France is ranked 14th by the IIHF (they would be 15th if Russia was not disqualified) and there are only 10 teams at the Olympics. That's the story to watch. They enter the tournament as heavy underdogs. Only the host nation, Italy, has a lower rank and greater odds stacked against them shocking the world.
Whatever France does in this tournament will be history. What everyone in the program is hoping for here is a promising first chapter.
Two players to watch
Clara Rozier (F)
Rozier, 28, is a small forward who has proven herself a capable scorer in Switzerland's SWHL and playing in the Auroraliiga in Finland. She was France's highest-scorer in OGQ (Olympic Games Qualifying) play, with three goals and four assists in Japan a year ago. Rozier also led the team in shots on goal (16) and potted one of France's two powerplay goals. Her chemistry with Estelle Duvin – the two play together on SC Bern Frauen in the SWHL – will be something to watch closely on the power play.
C'est pas parce que ça marche pas la 1re fois, que ça ne marchera pas la 2e fois.
— Nicolas Jacquet (@Nico_Jt_) February 9, 2025
La preuve avec la combinaison Sophie Leclerc / @ClaraRozier
🚀 pic.twitter.com/pFU7VIpxXi
Chloé Aurard-Bushee (F)
Aurard-Bushee is playing pro hockey in the SWHL after spending the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons in the PWHL with the New York Sirens. Aurard-Bushee was an electrifying talent at Northeastern University, but struggled to produce in a limited role with the Sirens. With that said, PWHL fans never got to see the best of Aurard-Bushee. She is a star forward for this program who has vital experience playing on the big stage. With a big enough performance, Aurard-Bushee could play her way back to the PWHL – if there is where she wants to be.
What does success look like
Success for France doesn't require them shocking the world in Italy. Success will be whatever allows them to come home with their heads held high.
What this national team needs to do is make its identity known to its opponents in Group B. They need to play disciplined hockey. They need to score. In truth, the only thing standing between France and a feel-good performance in Milan is Italy upsetting them in the group stage. That is truly the only game that they "should" win. A victory over Japan, Germany, or the Swedes would be champagne-worthy.
Predicted finish
France will finish fourth in Group B and ninth overall. I just don't see how they will do any better than that given what they are up against in Italy. There are some solid skaters in this group, but Team France simply doesn't have the depth to measure up against Team Japan, Team Sweden, or Team Germany. This tournament will be about building for the future and raising the program's profile at home.
Data courtesy of the IIHF and EliteProspects.com.
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