Russia Set to Return to Women’s Hockey at 2027 Worlds and 2030 Olympics

The IIHF and IOC lifted their bans on Russian participation, clearing the way for the country’s competitive return. Russia will likely compete at the 2027 World Championships and 2030 Olympics—marking its re-entry into international women’s hockey after years on the sidelines.

Russia hasn’t played in international women’s hockey since the 2022 Olympics. The gap has been real. Now, with sanctions lifted, the country is gearing up for its comeback, and the groundwork is already underway.

The Russians currently rank seventh in the IIHF standings with 4,965 points, trailing the United States, Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden. That ranking shows both the distance to cover and the caliber of competition waiting.

Russian talent is already making waves professionally. Fanuza Kadirova, a forward with Ottawa Charge, became a standout player in her inaugural PWHL season. Anna Shokhina was drafted in the second round of the 2025 PWHL Draft by Ottawa, then traded to Vancouver mid-season. Vita Poniatovskaia, who attended Yale, signed with Ottawa Charge late in the season and re-signed there this offseason.

The 2026 PWHL Draft showed uneven progress for Russian prospects. The Minnesota Frost picked up goaltender Daria Gredzen, but Nina Pirogova and Anna Shokhina went undrafted—a sign that talent development still has gaps.

Russia’s domestic ZhHL women’s league is aggressively signing NCAA graduates with contracts that beat PWHL salaries, a clear signal of serious investment as 2027 draws closer.