Grace O’Hanlon
New Zealand goalie
Yes, a goalie. You know you are a bit special when you are the one hidden behind a helmet, face mask and pads, and your job is to put yourself in front of 120kmh thunderbolts.
You are the rock star of the team.
Queensland-born O’Hanlon is at the peak of her powers at the age of 33 and was recently named the best goalkeeper in world hockey.
She was in magnificent form last year at the Nations Cup and the Oceania Cup — the Black Sticks won both — and was described by her captain as a "once-in-a-lifetime" player.
New Zealand captain
There is a famous photo of the Black Sticks skipper when she was just 17.
Shannon had just been selected in the national side for the first time but, before she could pack up her hockey gear and assemble with the team, she had some farm work to do.
Posing for a photographer from the local paper on a quadbike with a working dog on the back.
Growing up on rolling hill country at Waituna West in the Manawatū — and playing rugby for years before picking up a stick — prepared Shannon well for the hurly-burly of modern hockey.
She is a widely respected leader, an excitement machine with the ball at her feet and the No 1 weapon for the Black Sticks if she is allowed to shoot.
United States star
Hoffman’s pump-up song is Psycho — should we be worried?
The classy utility made her senior international debut just up the road, in Christchurch, when the US toured New Zealand in 2017.
Hoffman grew up in Pennsylvania and had an outstanding college career at the University of North Carolina, starting all 96 games she played, having her jersey number retired and winning a national title with an undefeated team.
Hockey is in Hoffman’s blood.
Her mother, Brenda, won bronze at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
US multi-tasker
The Black Sticks might have a great goalkeeper, but the Americans do not lack much in comparison.
Houston-born Bing was named best goalie at the Olympic qualifying tournament in India in 2024 as the US finished second to book their ticket to Paris.
She is a qualified engineer who works for a start-up looking into autonomous flight projects.
Japanese striker
Kobayakawa has come to the right place.
In her profile on the website for her club side, the Coca-Cola Red Sparks, the 26-year-old Japanese star says she wants to give bungee jumping a try.
Kobayakawa has 70 caps and 17 goals for her country and scored a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw with the Black Sticks in Auckland two years ago.
