Women's Olympic Ice Hockey
2026 Olympic
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Canada has beaten Switzerland 2-1 in the semifinals of the women’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics, advancing to Thursday’s gold medal game against the United States.
Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice in the second period, becoming the all-time leader in career goals in women's hockey at the Olympics in the process. Rahel Enzler scored for the Swiss early in the third period.
The gold medal game will pit Canada against the U.S. for the seventh time in eight editions of the women’s hockey tournament.
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GO FURTHER
Canada women’s hockey team advances to Olympic gold medal game as Poulin makes history
According to Dom Luszczyszyn's forecast, Canada only has a 35 percent likelihood of beating the U.S. in the gold medal game. That's a reflection of the past five meetings between the two teams, which Team USA has dominated as Lukas mentioned.
In the bronze medal game, Dom's projections give the Swiss a 36 percent chance of beating Sweden.
Thursday at the Olympics is a massive one, particularly for women’s sports.
At 1 p.m. ET, the women’s free skate program begins, the finale of the figure skating competition. This is one of the banner events of the Winter Olympics, with skaters becoming sporting legends should they capture the Olympic title.
Then at 1:10 p.m. ET, Canada and USA, reuniting their rivalry for women’s hockey gold.
Doesn’t get much better than that, sports fans.
Since women’s hockey was introduced at the Olympic Games in 1998, Canada and the U.S. have played in the preliminary round five times, including last week's meeting.
The loser of the round-robin game has gone on to win the gold medal just once. That was in Pyeongchang 2018, when U.S. lost to Canada 2-1 in the round robin and won the final 3-2 in a shootout.
That history doesn't bode well for Canada.
Canada has an experience-heavy group competing for gold in women’s hockey. But there are some making their Olympic debut who will play for their first gold medal on Thursday.
Below is the list of Olympic first-timers on this roster:
Marie-Philip Poulin currently has three Olympic gold medals. Should Canada win Thursday's final against Team USA, it would be her fourth.
She would enter a rarified place of Canadian women’s hockey legends, joining Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser and Caroline Ouellette.
Marie-Philip Poulin will be playing her 27th game on Thursday wearing the red and white. That will be the most of any women’s hockey player in Canada's history, surpassing Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford.
If Team USA wins gold, they would go undefeated in the Milan Cortina Games.
It would be the Americans’ third Olympic gold in women’s hockey. Team USA would just be two gold medals behind Canada’s five, closing the gap with their archrival in international hockey.
A tough task awaits Canada in the gold medal game: scoring against Team USA.
The Americans haven't allowed a goal since their opening game, all the way back on Feb. 5, the day before the Opening Ceremony.
Since then, they've posted five straight shutouts, totaling more than 330 straight minutes.
Aerin Frankel is expected to start the final after recording a 23-save shutout today.
Should Canada win Olympic gold on Thursday, they will have their sixth Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey.
It won’t be easy but for this experienced group, they are up for the challenge.
Just two games left in the women's hockey tournament here in Milan, both of which take place on Thursday.
All events have concluded. See full medal count.
Canada may have more Olympic gold medals than the U.S. in women’s hockey. But recent history suggests that the Americans have the Canadians' number.
Team USA won all four Rivalry Series games against Canada leading into the Winter Olympics. They outscored Canada 24-7 in those four games.
Factor in the preliminary round contest and USA is outscoring Canada 29-7 in five games.
There is a reason Marie-Philip Poulin is called “Captain Clutch!” She raises her game in the big moments, particularly in gold medal games.
This will be Poulin’s fifth gold medal game she will play in. In the previous four, she has scored at least one goal.
Extraordinary stuff.
Switzerland will play in the bronze medal game in women's hockey for the third time, seeking their second medal. They beat Sweden for the bronze in 2014, and lost to Finland in 2022.
Below are the full semifinal results for women’s hockey. A dominant performance from Team USA, once again showing why they are the favorites.
Canada held on, surviving a decent test from Switzerland.
This gold medal game between Canada and USA will be a rematch of their preliminary round meeting.
USA blanked Canada 5-0 in that contest. Hannah Bilka scored two goals for Team USA while Caroline Harvey, Kirsten Simms and Laila Edwards each added one.
The first of Marie-Philip Poulin's two goals today gave her sole possession of the all-time record for career goals in the Olympics.
Renata Fast led all skaters for Canada against Switzerland with 24:12. She was one of four skaters in this semifinal to notch over 20 minutes of ice time.
Marie-Philip Poulin led all skaters with seven total shots. “Captain Clutch” delivering again.
This is the eighth edition of women's hockey at the Olympics, and Canada has reached the gold medal game in all eight. Here's how they fared in the previous seven finals.
This is the fifth consecutive gold medal game between Canada and USA in women’s hockey.
In Vancouver, Sochi and Beijing (the last Winter Olympics), Canada was victorious.
In 2018, Team USA outlasted Canada in a shootout to capture gold.