During a trip to Junior’s restaurant in early February, Nana Fujimoto sat against a wall decorated with Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia, savoring a slice of cheesecake while discussing her journey from Sapporo, Japan, to the National Women’s Hockey League.

Like Duke Snider and Jackie Robinson featured in the photos above her, Fujimoto, whose 5-foot-4 frame minds the net for the New York Riveters, has won over local fans. Her No. 33 jersey is abundantly spotted at rinks throughout the league, where Japanese television crews often follow her.

For Fujimoto, the popularity is an afterthought. She came to the United States only to prove herself against the world’s top hockey players. In January, she was named a starter in the N.W.H.L.’s first All-Star Game.

Despite her rising status, Fujimoto, 27, is uncertain if she can return next season.

A frequent story line during the N.W.H.L.’s first year has been the sacrifices made by its 72 players to expand the game of women’s hockey. These costs are magnified for the 21 international players hailing from Austria, Canada, Japan and Russia, some who moved to the United States for personal and professional reasons that extend beyond passion for the sport.