USA Edges Canada to Capture Women's Hockey Gold at 2026 Olympics
In a thrilling overtime final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, the United States women’s ice hockey team has captured the gold medal, stunning Canada 2-1. Megan Keller netted the decisive goal in overtime to crown the American team as champions. The gold medalists celebrated their victory by singing the national anthem arm in arm, in a moment described by team captain Hilary Knight as the best part.
A Bitter Rivalry Renewed
The match was the latest chapter in the longstanding rivalry between the two North American powerhouses. Since women's hockey joined the Olympic schedule in 1998, only the U.S. or Canada have ever won gold, with six of the seven gold-medal games in Olympic history being contested between these two countries. Prior to this game, Canada had won four of those six matchups, including the most recent Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022.
The semifinals saw both teams overcoming their respective opponents, with Canada rallying past Finland despite the absence of their captain, Sidney Crosby, and the US team shutting out Sweden. The stage was set for the grand finale in Milan, a game that held not only sporting implications but was also seen as a political challenge.
The Decisive Match
Team USA was considered the favorite for the gold, especially given their dominant 5-0 victory over Canada in their preliminary round games. The final match, however, proved a much tighter affair. It was Hilary Knight's game-tying goal with just over two minutes left on the clock, which sent the game into overtime. This historic goal made Knight the greatest women's hockey scorer in Olympic history, with a career total of 15 goals.
In overtime, Megan Keller was the hero for Team USA. She outmaneuvered the Canadian defense and scored the winning goal, dethroning their archrivals in a match that will go down as an instant classic.
Reactions and Implications
The victory was met with jubilation by the American team and fans. Knight, who was mic’d up by NBC’s broadcast for the moment, excitedly exclaimed that hearing the national anthem was the best part, a sentiment echoed by forward Taylor Heise who described the moment as unbelievable.
The match was even said to be awaiting the arrival of the American president, although his presence was not officially confirmed. In Canada, the Ontario government allowed early-morning alcohol sales for the gold medal hockey game, indicating the high anticipation surrounding the match.
Conclusion
With this victory, the US women’s ice hockey team has once again underlined their status as one of the dominant forces in the sport. The final match was a fitting climax to the tournament and a testament to the enduring rivalry between the two teams.