Heise Siblings Shine on Big Stages

Nate Heise helps Iowa State beat Houston hours after sister Taylor scores for U.S. Olympic hockey team

Feb. 18, 2026 at 10:47am

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Nate Heise, the brother of U.S. women's hockey star Taylor Heise, helped Iowa State defeat No. 2 Houston just hours after his sister scored a goal for the American team in the 2026 Winter Olympics semifinal. Nate hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the Cyclones' 70-67 victory, while Taylor's goal earlier in the day clinched a spot in the gold medal game for Team USA.

Why it matters

The Heise siblings' success on the same day highlights the athletic talent in the family and the ability of elite athletes to excel at the highest levels of their respective sports. Nate's performance helped keep Iowa State's strong season going, while Taylor's goal brought the U.S. women's hockey team one step closer to Olympic gold.

The details

Nate Heise, a redshirt senior guard for Iowa State, went 3-for-3 from 3-point range, including a go-ahead shot in the final minutes, to help the No. 6 Cyclones defeat No. 2 Houston 70-67. Earlier in the day, his sister Taylor Heise scored the second goal for the U.S. women's hockey team in their 5-0 semifinal win over Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

  • On Monday, February 17, 2026, Nate Heise helped Iowa State beat Houston.
  • Also on Monday, February 17, 2026, Taylor Heise scored a goal for the U.S. women's hockey team in the Olympics semifinal.

The players

Nate Heise

A redshirt senior guard for the Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team and the brother of U.S. women's hockey player Taylor Heise.

Taylor Heise

A 25-year-old forward on the U.S. women's hockey team competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Iowa State Cyclones

The men's basketball team that Nate Heise plays for, currently ranked No. 6 in the country.

U.S. Women's Hockey Team

The American women's ice hockey team competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which includes Taylor Heise.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, it was cool earlier when she scored a goal and they won and they're on to the championship. So, pretty good day.”

— Nate Heise, Redshirt Senior Guard, Iowa State Cyclones

What’s next

The U.S. women's hockey team will face rival Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday, February 20, 2026 at 1:10 p.m. EST. The Iowa State Cyclones will play the No. 23 BYU Cougars on Saturday, February 22, 2026 at 10:30 p.m. in Provo, Utah.

The takeaway

The Heise siblings' success on the same day showcases the athletic talent in their family and the ability of elite athletes to excel at the highest levels of their respective sports, whether it's on the Olympic stage or in a high-stakes college basketball game.