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The gold medal in women’s hockey goes to the United States.
The Americans came back from a late deficit to win a 2-1 overtime thriller against their nemesis Canada.
The Americans started the second period with a power play after a penalty at the end of the first, but it was Canada who scored shorthanded for the first goal of the game. It was the first goal allowed by the Americans in the knockout phase, ending a three-hour, 52-minute, seven-second shutout streak.
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Megan Keller of Team USA celebrates with her teammates after scoring the winning goal to win the gold medals in overtime during the women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Canadians enjoyed a power play late in the third while holding the Americans scoreless, but the United States was able to put the game away with just over four minutes remaining. With the puck in the Canadian zone and about 2:30 remaining in the game, the Americans pulled their goaltender, and the risk proved worthwhile, as captain Hilary Knight deflected a wrist shot from the top of the zone to tie the game and eventually force overtime. After regulation, the shots were 29-28 in favor of Canada.
Four minutes and seven seconds into overtime, Megan Keller made a nifty move and squeaked the puck past the Canadian goaltender to preserve the gold medal. It’s the Americans’ first gold medal since 2018.
Team Canada lost two games during the Olympics, both to the United States, which remained undefeated.
Hilary Knight, #21 of Team USA, celebrates with her teammates after scoring a goal in the third period during the women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Seven of the eight gold medal games in Olympic history have been between Canada and the United States, with the Americans winning three.
Canada and the United States have also met in the gold medal game at 23 of the 24 IIHF Women’s World Championships and 21 of the 23 4 Nations Cups since international play began in 1987. Excluding the pandemic, the last time the two countries did not face each other in a gold medal game at an international tournament was in 2019, and before that, in 1993.
Canada settled for bronze at the 2019 World Championship, while the United States beat Finland. This remains the only year Canada did not finish with gold or silver, while the streak of American attempts at gold is still intact.
Megan Keller (5) of Team USA celebrates with her teammates after scoring the winning goal to win the gold medal in overtime during the women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, February 19, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Canada, however, has only won gold or silver at the Olympics, while the Americans had to settle for bronze in 2006.
Knight’s goal made her the United States’ all-time leading scorer and points leader. She recently became engaged to speed skater Brittany Bowe.
