When Penn State field hockey beat No. 1 Northwestern, former team standout Phia Gladieux had tears in her eyes. Then, for a moment, she wished she could be out there experiencing this moment with the Nittany Lions.

Watching some of her former teammates succeed brought excitement, jealousy, and nostalgia. Gladieux loves the life she’s building after college, but watching Penn State still reminds her sometimes of what she misses.

“You just create this bond that’s kind of hard to recreate in other aspects of your life,” Gladieux told Onward State.

Since graduating after the fall semester in 2024, Gladieux has been finding her footing in Charlotte, North Carolina, while competing with the U.S. women’s national field hockey team. After representing the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Gladieux hopes to appear again in Los Angeles in 2028.

Getting there has meant adjusting to more than a demanding training schedule.

At Penn State, Gladieux became the program’s all-time leading scorer and someone her teammates trusted to create opportunities. On the national team, she had players who carried similar expectations at their own schools.

“I really struggled with my identity,” Gladieux said.

Gladieux’s learning to recognize her impact even when she doesn’t score. Pressuring defenders, winning the ball back, and opening space for her teammates are contributions she might have overlooked at college, but is working to improve now.

Gladieux credits her Penn State coaches with helping her stay open to that growth. Former head coach Char Morett-Curtiss never let their close relationship keep her from correcting Gladieux’s mistakes.

While that could be frustrating at the time, Gladieux now appreciates how consistently her coaches pushed her. Experiencing both a Final Four run and the disappointment of missing the Big Ten tournament also prepared her to handle setbacks.

Outside of training, she’s become more intentional about recovery, nutrition, sleep, and her mental health. Her boyfriend, Kevin, and their two dogs give her that chance to come home and think about something other than field hockey.

“I think I’ve learned that for me to be successful, I don’t need an army of supporters,” Gladieux said.

Her early childhood education background has followed her beyond college, too. Through clinics and private lessons, Gladieux uses what she learned in student teaching to teach skills to younger athletes.

It also helped connect her with Hannah Prince before Prince became Penn State’s head coach.

The two communicated through Xcalibur, which was Gladieux’s former club, where Prince was the director. Gladieux worked clinics, including one hosted at Saint Joseph’s while Prince coached there.

When Prince got the Penn State job, Gladieux texted her congratulations. She’s since joined alumni Zoom calls and reached out after big games.

“She just seemed so excited and so proud to be able to represent this school,” Gladieux said. “I’m so beyond happy for her, and the culture there just seems really great.”

As she follows the program, Gladieux is working toward feeling more secure in her own game. She wants to reflect on a difficult performance without letting it undermine her confidence for days.

That’s part of the growth she’s still pursuing alongside another Olympic appearance. And while her career has taken her away from Happy Valley, she’s still watching the team she once helped lead.

“I’m their biggest fan,” Gladieux said.

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