Maja Nylén Persson

Maja Nylén Persson (born 20 November 2000) is a Swedish ice hockey defenceman for New York of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and the Swedish national team. She was drafted 10th overall in the second round of the 2024 PWHL draft by New York.

Playing career
Nylén Persson grew up cheering for Leksands IF, and made her debut in what is now the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) for their women's team at the age of 13. She played five seasons for the club, scoring over 60 points. In March 2019, she won the EliteProspects Award for the SDHL's youth player of the year, becoming the inaugural recipient of the women's hockey version of the award.

After graduating from high school, she left Leksands to sign a three-year contract with Brynäs IF. She scored 26 points in 36 games in her first season with Brynäs, serving as an assistant captain. Following the season, she repeated as the recipient of the EliteProspects Award.

The 2021–22 season saw Nylén Persson record 15 goals and 47 points in 35 games, good for fifth in league scoring and first among defenders. In the playoffs, her four goals and 13 points helped Brynäs to their second consecutive finals appearance. She won the SDHL awards for player of the year and defender of the year, and became the first woman to win the Salming Trophy as the best Swedish-born defender playing in Sweden. Following the season, she signed a two-year contract extension with Brynäs.

In the 2023–24 season as the captain of Brynäs, Nylén Persson led all defenders with 38 points in 36 games. She won the SDHL top defender award for the third consecutive season.

On 10 June 2024, Nylén Persson was drafted tenth overall by New York in the 2024 PWHL draft. She signed a three-year contract with the club on 11 July.

International play
Nylén Persson was part of the Swedish squad that won gold at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. She made her senior national team debut at the 2017 World Championship.

Nylén Persson represented Sweden at the 2017 World U18 Championship, where they faced Russia in the bronze-medal match. Scoreless after two periods, the Russians scored twice in the third period to deprive Sweden of a medal. Nylén Persson was named the best player of the match for the Swedes.

Returning for the 2018 World U18 Championship, Nylén Persson was named to the media all-star team as she and Sweden claimed a silver medal. A month later, she made her Olympic debut as the youngest on her team at the 2018 Winter Olympics, recording four points in six games despite the Swedes' worst-ever seventh-place finish.

In the 2022 Olympic qualifying tournament, Sweden won all three matches to qualify for the games, with Nylén Persson recording an assist in the final match, a 3–2 victory over France. As an alternate captain at the Olympic tourmanent, she was an integral part of the Swedish delegation, who would be eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Nylén Persson attended the 2024 World Championship in Utica, New York, where she was named a top three player on the Swedish team.