Women's Olympic Ice Hockey
2026 Olympic
Hockey
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Team USA has beaten Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game of the women's hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Megan Keller scored the winning goal 4:07 into the 3-on-3 overtime period.
Kristin O'Neill scored the opening goal for Canada on a short-handed breakaway in the first minute of the second period. The Canadians led until just over two minutes remained, when Hilary Knight dramatically forced overtime with a redirection in front of the net after the U.S. had pulled goalie Aerin Frankel.
This is the third time the U.S. women's hockey team has won the gold medal, all coming against Canada.
Share your reaction with us at live@theathletic.com.
One of our readers, JD D., wrote in to evaluate Canada’s strategy and how close they were to capturing the gold medal. He also had some kind words for Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin.
Here is what he had to say:
📝 “Canadian class exhibited by Poulin, who instead of the perfunctory limp hand extended on the handshake line, looked everyone on the U.S. team in the face to offer congrats.
“Let’s hope the men’s gold medal game can live up to to this one.”
Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin speaking after the game about her pride in the team's performance: "Very proud. We came out, we wanted to play, we wanted to make it difficult for them and we did. Honestly, we knew it was going to be a battle, it was going to be up and down, and it was.
"Overtime against the US? I don't think it's a surprise for anybody. It's happened many times."
On how it felt going into overtime after conceding a late equaliser: "Exciting. We fought so hard for those moments and honestly very happy on how our team came out against them today."
Canada head coach Troy Ryan speaking after the defeat: "I don't think there's a lot to explain. I'm very proud of the group. They battled right to the end and probably saved our best game for the last game of the year.
"Just really, really proud of them. Disappointed, and I feel for them, but definitely proud."
On the game plan: "I thought we, as a group, played smart. We played above them, we forced turnovers, capitalized on some, but it just wasn't enough tonight."
On losing in overtime after giving up the 1-0 lead late: "It's tough. You get the six-on-five goal against you at the end, and you know, in three-on-three (overtime) anything can happen.
"There's a ton of skilled players on both sides. We had our chances to put it away and it just didn't happen."
Edwards also spoke about her contribution to the late game-tying goal scored by Hilary Knight: "I took a lot of high shots that were not going my way. 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."
On combining with Knight for that goal: "It is unbelievable. To be a small part of everything she has accomplished, I am so honored. To learn from her every day is a blessing."
On the game-winning goal by Megan Keller: "It was unbelievable. It looked like Connor McDavid out there. It doesn't surprise me, I know she has those things up her sleeve. I am so proud of her."
Laila Edwards speaking about the feeling amongst Team USA going into the third period trailing 1-0: "Honestly, steady, confidence. This group has been unbelievable all tournament.
"We knew it was not going to be easy. None of us ever wanted it to be easy. We were prepared for the challenge, and never lost hope, as you can tell."
And on what was said in the locker room before overtime: "We got this. We just have to play our game. We knew it was 3-on-3, it is different, man-on-man. Both teams had the same logistical things, and we had a plan and just had to execute it."
Team USA head coach John Wroblewski speaking after the victory: "It’s like invigorating every part of your mind, body and soul. It’s the best way to describe it.
"A sense of accomplishment through the players, that’s where you feel it – watching their elation, their victory.
"It touches every part of you as a human being – to be involved in the Olympics, to see the group that you work with persevere. It's a great moment."
Keller also spoke about scoring the game-winning goal in overtime: "I was just trying to make a move, take a chance. I was trying to win, not play to not lose. That's what we talked about in the locker room.
"We wanted to go out and take it. (Taylor) Heise made a great pass and I was just trying to get to the net."
On the legacy of this USA team: "In my view, this is the best hockey team the world has ever seen."
Speaking of Megan Keller, here's what Team USA's overtime hero had to say after the game: "It was a hard-fought game. Canada gave us their best and they're an incredible team. Their goaltending was outstanding. A lot of offense, a lot of great defense, so it was hard.
"But really proud of the way our group stuck together. We fought to get into OT and just happy to finish it off.
"I think we just kept that belief in one another. I don't know how much we trailed this tournament. We never lost the faith in that locker room and I think that was big for us."
And thank you Martin M. for emailing us and chronicling your reaction to Megan Keller’s OT winner. I’ll let you tell it in your own words.
💬: “My friends and I all shouted so loudly when Keller’s goal went in that someone in the other room thought there was a home invader or a fire!
“So happy especially for all this young blood on team USA who just got their first gold.”
Thanks for emailing us, Kelly T. Here is what this reader had to say about the U.S. women’s hockey team and it’s Wisconsin Badgers connection:
📝: “So proud of the University of Wisconsin students on this team. Go Badgers.”
Caroline Harvey, Kirsten Simms, backup goalie Ava McNaughton and defender Laila Edwards are currently Badgers. Britta Curl-Salemme and Hilary Knight are Wisconsin alumni.
Murphy had more to say about Knight: "She's the best leader in the world, and it shows. She puts her mind to things, it shows in her actions. There's no one better than her in the world, truly. She shines in big moments, the moments when we need her most.
"We have plenty of people like that on this team and, oh my gosh, just what a game by Aerin Frankel. Big time goal by Megan Keller. This team's just so beyond special."
Abbey Murphy speaking about whether Team USA always believed they could tie the game and force overtime: "Absolutely. This team had one thing in mind and that was gold, obviously.
"Crazy ending, took us a little bit to score, 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, and for Megan Keller to (score) in overtime, I mean, everyone just played their role perfectly and holy, holy s—.
"I mean, what a game. What a game. I think the belief was there for the whole 60 minutes, plus whatever it was in overtime, but we're champions."
On what they will do to celebrate: "A lot of things. A lot of things."
More from Knight after Team USA's win: “I think about all the people that helped me get here, keep us healthy at this level. It’s really special. I can’t wait to share this with some people.”
On how proud she is of her team: “Super proud. Team Canada is a phenomenal team, heavy hitters. They (led) 1-0. We were just trying to lean on them, front and back of the net. It’s a tough team to break.”
Hilary Knight speaking after Team USA's win: “I love this group. It’s so special to be able to play at this level. I feel a lot of gratitude. It’s such a magical moment and I’m just trying to soak it all in.”
On scoring the late game-tying goal: “There was no way we were losing this game. 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.”
Despite losing, Canadian defender Renata Fast praised her teammates for battling until the last second.
💬 “I am so proud of this group. We knew we were going to come into this game and it was going to be a tight matchup. We played our hearts out. We played with a ton of pride, we competed.
“It didn't go our way in the end, but when you leave that rink, you just have to be proud of the effort of the team, and today we are really proud of our group.”
After the game, Canadian Laura Stacey spoke about the heartbreaking loss, so close to gold and letting it slip away to Team USA in overtime.
💬 “This locker room, this staff, is why it hurts so bad. We wanted it, and we did everything we could for one another, and we fell just inches short. Heartbreaking.
“(It's) the greatest rivalry in sports for that reason. Every game is tight. Every single battle, every single game, is that important because the game is that close in this matchup.
“This is the exact game we expected today. It just didn't come out the way we wanted.”
As Ann-Renee Desbiens spoke about, tonight was the third time USA and Canada have gone to overtime in an Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game.
The first time was Sochi 2014, one of the most dramatic gold medal games in Olympic history. In the last minute, down 2-1, Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin scored the tying goal. Poulin also scored the OT winner, giving Canada the gold medal.
At Pyeongchang 2018, the game went to overtime and then to a shootout. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored the clinching goal, giving the U.S. the gold medal.
Finally today, at the Milan Cortina Games, Hilary Knight scored the tying goal with U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel pulled, before Megan Keller added her name to American hockey lore with the overtime winner.
Desbiens also spoke about yet another USA-Canada gold medal game being decided in overtime: “It just shows how good those games are. Each country plays with so much pride and those games are tough. It makes for a good show, so I hope people enjoyed it too.”
On her feelings: “It’s a mix of a lot of things. We’re proud of the way we played and showed up. Disappointed with the result and how it ended. This group deserved better.”
Canada goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens speaking after the game: “We showed a lot of pride. We clawed, we fought. We were very resilient. We did a lot of the right things so we should be proud.”
On allowing the goal in overtime: “Everything happens so fast. On the shots you never quite know where it goes and it squeaked in. I’ll see that one for a long time.”