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The stage is officially set for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games – the United States taking on Canada for women’s hockey gold on Thursday night.
Since women’s hockey joined the Olympic calendar in 1998, only the United States and Canada have won gold. And six of the seven gold medal games in Olympic history have been between these two countries.
Both teams understand this better than anyone, but it’s Canada that has won four of those six meetings, including the most recent Beijing Olympics in 2022.
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The United States team huddles before the Women’s Preliminary Group A match between the United States and Canada on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Mike Segar/Pool)
This time around, however, it’s Team USA who are the heavy favorites to win gold when the puck drops at 1:10 p.m. ET in Milan.
Even though Team Canada won 3-2 in 2022, the United States outscored them 5-0 to finish their preliminary round matches on February 10.
So, with that in mind, let’s look at how each team qualified for the Olympic final and, more importantly, what to expect between these bitter rivals.
USA WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM EXCLUDES SWEDEN, PLACES FOR GOLD MEDAL GAME AT WINTER OLYMPICS
Overwhelming adversaries
Since landing in Milan and stepping on the ice together, Team USA has had plenty of offensive onslaught, and virtually nothing from their opponents.
The United States has outscored its opponents 31-1 heading into Thursday’s match, scoring at least five goals in every game so far.
Since that last match against Canada, the American team beat Italy 6-0 in the quarterfinals. Then it was another dominant performance against Sweden in the semifinals on Monday, 5-0, at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
And it wasn’t just a few Americans who contributed to the scoresheet, but 15 players in total who scored goals. The puck is distributed by players like Alex Carpenter, Coyne Schofield, Laila Edwards, Carolina Harvey and many others.
The momentum couldn’t be higher for this group entering the game they’ve been waiting for since 2022.
Blayre Turnbull of Team Canada shakes hands with Team USA players after the Women’s Preliminary Group A match between the United States and Canada on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
FRESH CANADA
Despite losing 5-0 to Team USA, this Canadian group was still clear favorites in most of their matches, including a 4-0 final against Switzerland to begin their Olympic journey.
Then, a 5-1 victory against Czechia and 5-0 against Finland after the defeat against the United States gave them hope of a match against Germany in the quarter-finals.
It was a 5-1 result for Team Canada, who took care of business before having a tougher time against Switzerland in the semifinals. But the match was a close 2-1 victory for Canada, as it returned to the gold medal game with the chance to defend its 2022 title.
TEAM USA PLAYER TO WATCH: CAROLINE HARVEY
For those who have yet to watch U.S. women’s hockey at the Olympics, Harvey will be a player that immediately stands out. And those who have followed have generally been eager to see Harvey’s changes given the skills demonstrated in Milan.
Harvey, a strong skater with excellent stick skills and vision as a defender, has received praise from the men’s hockey team, including Matthew Tkachuk. Harvey is only 23 years old and still a senior at Wisconsin, making her the clear favorite for the No. 1 pick in the PWHL draft later this year.
Harvey leads all players with nine total points in the tournament, including an Olympic-high seven assists. She scored two goals for a total of nine points. She also has a plus-minus of +14 to lead the tournament as well.
While there are tons of players to watch for the Stars and Stripes – be on the lookout for Edwards, Abbey Murphy and Tessa Janecke – Harvey has been an absolute joy to watch on the ice.
Caroline Harvey (4) of Team USA celebrates with her teammates after a goal in the first period during the Women’s Preliminary Group A match between the United States and Canada on the fourth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TEAM CANADA PLAYER TO WATCH: MARIE-PHILIP POULIN
Canada’s captain showed courage and determination despite a right knee injury that prevented her from facing the United States last week.
But she was needed in the tough match against Switzerland, putting both of the team’s goals in the net to pave the way to the gold medal game.
While Canada’s roster has been a subject of debate since head coach Troy Ryan left some of the country’s strongest young talent behind, it was veterans like Poulin who set the tone even after the loss to the United States.
There are a total of 16 players from the Beijing 2022 gold medal roster who are returning in 2026 for Team Canada.
IT’S TIME TO FIGHT?
It’s no secret these two teams don’t like each other, but Team USA wasn’t afraid to talk about the tension even months before the Games.
Several stars on the team told PK Press Club Digital that they were prepared to drop the gloves if necessary against Team Canada if the situation arose.
“They don’t like us very much,” Harvey said in October 2025. “So it’s more motivating than anything else and, personally, it fuels the fire and makes us want to, you know, beat them more than ever.
Alex Carpenter of Team USA and Blayre Turnbull of Team Canada compete in the first period during the Women’s Preliminary Group A match between the United States and Canada on the fourth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
“I don’t like them either. They’re respectable competitors, they’re so good and they always give us such a tough match, it’s so back and forth. But when we’re in the heat of battle, we always fight and don’t like them.”
Veteran Brianne Knight added, “I think the rivalry between the United States and Canada will always be there and no matter how many other countries compete in the final match, that relationship between the United States and Canada will always be special.”
These two teams have clashed in the past, including one of the most iconic fights in women’s hockey history in 2013 during a pre-Olympic exhibition game, where 10 major fights were dealt out after every position player on the ice dropped their gloves and fought.
A similar situation occurred in men’s hockey during the 4 Nations showdown, where tensions between the two countries were certainly heightened last year when President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on the country. But don’t sleep on the tensions which turn into very physical moments between these two teams on Thursday.
