Living the Dream: Issy Wunder’s 'My Life is a Movie' Hockey Journey to Princeton

In this episode of The SPORTi Podcast, hosts Pam and Vanesa sit down with Issy Wunder, a standout NCAA women's hockey player at Princeton University. Issy shares her inspiring story, from being the only girl on a boys’ house league team to captaining her U22 team to a provincial championship. She reflects on how she fell in love with the game after watching her cousin play, her early struggles learning to skate, and the pivotal decision to switch from boys’ to girls’ hockey. Issy dives into her recruiting journey, how she took initiative by emailing Ivy League schools (including her now-famous cold email to Princeton), and what ultimately led her to commit to Princeton. She also touches on the importance of being a multi-sport athlete as a kid, her family’s balanced approach to youth sports, and the mentors who helped guide her path.As the conversation continues,  Issy  opens up about the transition to NCAA hockey, managing academics at an Ivy League school, and learning to handle setbacks. She shares her hopes for playing professionally in the PWHL, advice for young athletes navigating recruiting, and her belief that everything happens for a reason. With honesty and humility,  Issy emphasizes the value of hard work, staying grounded, and finding joy in the process. Her story is filled with lessons not just for young players, but for parents supporting their kids in competitive sports.References:@issywunder9 @princetonwhockey @thesportipodcast