Hilary Knight has spent nearly two decades pushing women's hockey forward. On April 15, TIME Magazine confirmed what the sports world already knew: she is one of the most influential people on the planet.

Knight was named to the 2026 TIME 100 list of the world's most influential people, becoming the only hockey player among six athletes on this year's list. The recognition follows her gold-medal performance at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics in February — which she announced would be her final Olympic Games.

More Than a Record Book

Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai wrote Knight's tribute in the magazine, framing her impact in terms that transcend sport entirely.

"Hilary advocated for better wages, investment in girls' programs, and greater visibility for women's teams," Yousafzai wrote. "She helped build the Professional Women's Hockey League from the ground up — and ensured the road will be easier for the next generation."

Yousafzai highlighted a broader truth about what Knight represents: "Playing a sport is more than competition — it's a statement. With every game, the players are proving that women's sports are an economy, a culture, a force."

Building the PWHL

Knight's influence extends far beyond the ice. As a critical voice on the U.S. Women's National Team, she was instrumental in the fight for fair pay that resulted in landmark compensation agreements. But her most lasting legacy may be her role in establishing the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), which launched in 2024 and gave women's hockey a stable, professionally structured league for the first time.

Knight didn't just advocate from the sidelines. She joined the Seattle Torrent for the PWHL's inaugural seasons, putting her body on the line even as injuries mounted. In 19 games this season, she has posted three goals and eight assists — solid production from a player who spent much of the year dealing with nagging physical issues.

A Cultural Moment

The TIME 100 inclusion caps a remarkable stretch of public visibility for Knight since the Olympics. She appeared on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, bringing women's hockey to audiences that might never tune in to a game. For a sport that has historically struggled for media attention, Knight's post-Olympic media tour was a breakthrough in itself.

She joins an exclusive group of athletes on this year's list: golfer Scottie Scheffler, Formula 1 driver Lando Norris, sprinter Noah Lyles, snowboarder Chloe Kim, and figure skater Alysa Liu. The broader list includes U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Pope Leo XIV, Artemis II astronaut Reid Wiseman, and musicians Noah Kahan and Luke Combs.

The Road She Built

What makes Knight's selection significant is not just what she accomplished on the ice — five Olympic teams, multiple world championships, and a gold medal at her farewell Games. It is what she built off it: a professional league, a pay structure, a media presence, and a pipeline for the generation of girls who will never have to fight the same fights she did.

At 36, Knight has made it clear she is not done. The Seattle Torrent's season may be winding down, but the infrastructure she helped create is just getting started. For women's hockey, the best is still ahead — and Hilary Knight is a major reason why.