Makenna Webster has signed a three-year contract with the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), exclusively telling The Post this week. This move signifies a pivot back to ice hockey, a sport she had previously set aside to focus on her Olympic aspirations in field hockey.
Webster, a standout athlete who excelled in both ice hockey and field hockey throughout her college career at Ohio State, will join a young Sirens roster that includes Sarah Fillier, Kristýna Kaltounková, and Casey O’Brien. The team is aiming for its first postseason appearance.
Her decision to return to the ice comes after a period of dedicating herself to the U.S. field hockey program, with the goal of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. U.S. women's field hockey coach David Passmore had invited Webster to join the program, and she spent the past year training with the national team in Charlotte, N.C.
"Growing up, ice hockey was always the dream, that was my passion," Webster told The Post. "And then later in life, field hockey kind of came around, and more opportunities being on teams with that. I love representing my country and wanting to play for the national team. And the goal is to go to the Olympics."
Webster’s path has been marked by her ability to balance multiple sports, a rarity in an era of increasing specialization. She initially played ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin before transferring to Ohio State to become a two-sport athlete. She was part of NCAA championship-winning ice hockey teams in 2021 with Wisconsin and in 2024 with Ohio State, and she earned three All-American honors in field hockey. As a teenager, she represented the U.S. in both sports.
Her trainers at Ohio State developed a hybrid workout regimen to accommodate her training for both sports simultaneously, requiring strong time management skills. Webster credits her teammates for their support in allowing her to succeed in managing such demanding schedules.
Despite the differences between ice and field hockey, Webster found her hand-eye coordination and quick hands translated well, though she noted the distinct muscle groups and motions involved. During her time away from full-time ice hockey, she coached a local youth team, which provided her with continued ice time.
Sirens general manager Pascal Daoust acknowledged the risk that Webster might step away from the team to pursue her Olympic field hockey dream but expressed enthusiasm for her potential. "I’m a strong believer in multisport development," Daoust said. "When you have the opportunity to work with these athletes, they definitely bring consistency, they bring a DNA of someone who is not only talented but committed to being the best that she can be."
Webster has not been named to the country's FIH World Cup roster for the upcoming tournament, but she remains on the radar for the Olympic field hockey team. Her decision to play with the Sirens for at least one season allows her to pursue her professional ice hockey career while keeping the door open for a potential return to field hockey if her Olympic bid does not materialize.