The storybook ending is complete for Team USA and captain Hilary Knight.
“I love this group. It’s so special to be able to play at this level,” Knight said after the game. “I feel a lot of gratitude. It’s such a magical moment and I’m just trying to soak it all in.”
The U.S. women’s hockey team accomplished what they set out to do four years ago after losing to Canada in the Olympic final in Beijing: They defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
MATCH RESULTS
It’s just the third time in Olympic history that Team USA has been crowned the Olympic champion in women’s hockey, each time over arch-rival Canada.
“It touches every part of you as a human being,” U.S. head coach John Wroblewski said after the gold medal win. “To be involved in the Olympics. To see the group that you work with persevere. It’s a great moment.”
The United States was perfect in 2026 Olympic competition. They went undefeated over seven games, and only allowed two goals throughout the entirety of the tournament. The Americans were flawless, until Canada in the final.
While the U.S. triumphed in the end, it’s no secret that Canada outplayed the U.S. for much of the final and seemed to dominate the tempo throughout. Although the first period was scoreless and the stat sheet nearly even, Canada appeared to have the upper hand going into the break.
Then came the dagger.
Canadian forward Kristin O’Neill scored a shorthanded goal less than a minute into the second period. Canada managed to hold on to the 1-0 lead, and it looked as if they’d survive unscathed and secure a sixth gold medal in women’s hockey.
But appearances aren’t always what they seem. And, in terms of storybook endings, this one couldn’t have been scripted better, and we all know the script. It’s drummed up by kids across the world, long before their Olympic dreams ever take shape. Time’s running down, the chips are down and the white knight comes to the rescue.
Now, let’s go to the tape of Thursday’s Olympic final.
Team USA is down by a goal, with just two minutes and four seconds to go in Knight’s Olympic career. No. 21 throws her superhero cape over her jersey, because she’s not done yet.
As the clock ticked down, “Captain America” scored, tied the game, and kept the U.S. gold medal hopes alive. Her goal ultimately sent the Olympic final to sudden-death overtime.
“There was no way we were losing this game,” Knight said. “That’s all. Simple as that. We had some awesome heavy hitters on the ice. I knew we were going to get possession, so I just had to find a place in front of the net.”
With the heroic goal, Knight set the record for most Olympic goals and points in U.S. women’s hockey history.
“Crazy ending, took us a little bit to score,” Abbey Murphy said. “But you got a captain out there, Hilary Knight, who’s destined to put a puck in the net sooner or later at big moments. She’s a leader on and off the ice.”
Knight tipped the goal into the back of the net off a shot from Laila Edwards. The defenseman bombed the puck from deep and Knight maneuvered herself perfectly in front of the goal to get a stick on it to save the day for Team USA.
“I took a lot of high shots that were not going my way,” Edwards said. “We had a lot of traffic there, so I skipped it to the net and Hilary Knight was there, and she would take care of it, and she did.”
For the finale — and to the script — it was sudden-death overtime in the gold medal game, the United States and Canada.
“I was just trying to make a move, take a chance,” Megan Keller said. “I was trying to win, not play to not lose. That’s what we talked about in the locker room.”
Four minutes and seven seconds into the do-or-die period, Keller scored the golden goal to seal the gold medal win for Team USA.
“I’m lost for words. This is an incredible feeling,” Keller said after the win. “I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special.”
Individual heroics aside, it was a dynamic team effort for the United States throughout their gold-medal winning run in the Olympic tournament.
Caroline Harvey was named the Olympics’ Most Valuable Player and Best Defender. She finished with nine points, tied with Keller, and was instrumental in every single U.S. victory.
“In my view, this is the best hockey team the world has ever seen,” Keller said after the win.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin said despite being on the short end this time, she was proud of how her team competed in the final game.
“We came out, we wanted to play, we wanted to make it difficult for them and we did,” Poulin said. “Honestly, we knew it was going to be a battle, it was going to be up and down, and it was.”
As for Knight, she hangs up her Olympic skates exactly how she wanted. As an Olympic champion, once again. The five-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist is officially the most decorated American hockey player in Olympic history.
The End.
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