MILAN, Italy (NEXSTAR) - If it feels like the Olympic Women's hockey tournament in Milan features a little extra firepower this year, that could be due to the growth of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), now three seasons old. With Team USA and Canada heavily featuring PWHL athletes, the league's rapid growth and global impact are on full display, highlighting the rising prominence of women's hockey. USA hockey star Haley Winn is making her Olympic debut in Milan. Winn, a defender for the Boston Fleet, is being supported by her brothers, who have turned heads with colorful outfits and playful social media clips. Their stated mission is to highlight the strength of the women's national team and the growth of professional hockey. "I mean, we're literally watching our baby sister, like, live her dream," one of the Winn brothers said in a recent interview with Nexstar. While the North American teams feature the highest concentration of league talent, players from Czechia, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy are also representing the PWHL in Milan. In total, 61 athletes are representing the league in Milan. Jayna Hefford, a four-time Olympic hockey gold medalist, and Amy Scheer, a longtime sports executive, serve as executives for the PWHL. They have overseen the league's development through its first three seasons. Hefford credited the players and staff for the league's recent milestones. "We have a group of players that have done a lot of work to get to this point and build this league and then a bunch of passionate people that are leading it at the league," Hefford said. "And so it's been amazing to see the growth and the success over the first few seasons." The league provides a professional platform for athletes to compete on U.S. soil and internationally. The connection between the PWHL and the Olympics has become a significant focal point for broadcasters and fans during the tournament, further fueling the league's growth. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.