College Sports
Abbey Murphy to return for final season with Minnesota Gophers
Murphy, an up-and-comer in the U.S. women’s international program, can return due to an Olympic redshirt season and a COVID-era year of extra eligibility. MINNEAPOLIS — A high-scoring, fiercely competitive forward will be returning to the Minnesota Gophers hockey team by using an extra year of eligibility. Center Abbey Murphy, who tallied a career-best 65 […]
Murphy, an up-and-comer in the U.S. women’s international program, can return due to an Olympic redshirt season and a COVID-era year of extra eligibility.
MINNEAPOLIS — A high-scoring, fiercely competitive forward will be returning to the Minnesota Gophers hockey team by using an extra year of eligibility.
Center Abbey Murphy, who tallied a career-best 65 points during the 2024-25 season, announced that she would return to the Gophers to finish her eligibility. Murphy, who was officially a senior last season, has the opportunity to return after taking a redshirt season in 2021-22 and also being granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID pandemic.
“We are ecstatic that Murph has chosen to come back,” said Gopher women’s coach Brad Frost. “She is a staple within our Gopher program and women’s hockey worldwide. Our team and college hockey will be better with her in it.”
Murphy was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Trophy in 2024-25, which is awarded to the top player in NCAA women’s hockey. She finished fourth in the country with 33 goals and 32 assists, while leading the country in both game-winning goals (7) and shots (242).
“I’m beyond excited to announce I will be coming back for my final year of college hockey,” Murphy said in a released statement. “I am pumped for another go around with this team. It’s been a great ride but we’re not done yet. Go Gophers!”
The native of Evergreen Park, Ill., is part of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s “new guard,” making the roster for the 2022 Olympic team and then seeing her role grow in subsequent international events. During the recent 2025 IIHF World Championships, Murphy notched 3 goals and 3 assists in seven games in helping lead the U.S. to a gold medal. She should be a key producer on the 2026 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team.