U.S. Women's Hockey Joins Elite Group With Gold Medal Win

by The Spun
U.S. Women's Hockey Joins Elite Group With Gold Medal Win

© Amber Searls-Imagn Images

For the first time since 2018 and the third time since 1998, Team USA are the Olympic women's hockey champions.

In the gold medal game against arch-rival Canada, Team USA trailed 1-0 for most of the game. But in the final few minutes of the third period, captain Hilary Knight scored the game-tying goal that sent the game to overtime. Four minutes into that sudden-death period, Megan Keller scored the winner to secure the gold medal.

According to ESPN, Team USA's comeback win in the gold medal game marked just the third time that a team overcame a deficit to win the gold.

"It's not about how you start, it's how you finish. U.S. Women's Hockey becomes the third team to overcome a deficit to win gold, joining 2018 USA and 2014 Canada," ESPN Insights noted after the game.

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Women's hockey was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1998. Team USA won the inaugural gold medal, only for Team Canada to surge with gold medals in each of the next four Winter Olympics. The U.S. won silver in three of those instances plus a bronze in 2006.

In 2018 at Pyeongchang, Team USA finally got back over the hump and reclaimed the gold, only for Team Canada to claim their fifth gold medal in 2022.

In a fun twist of fate, the two teams were first pitted against each other in the group stage. Team USA dominated, winning 5-0 to cap off a Group Stage where they outscored opponents 20-1.

Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Hilary Knight (21) of the United States is hugged by teammates after scoring a goal against Canada in the women's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

© Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Team USA dominated everyone in the knockout stage too, taking down Italy and Sweden by a combined 11-0 to set up their rematch with Canada.

And while Team USA couldn't dominate Team Canada the way they had last week, they got the job done in the end.

Team USA has never won back-to-back golds in women's hockey. Plenty of eyes will be on the French Alps in 2030 as they vie for a chance to win another.

But for now, the U.S. women's hockey team can revel in what they achieved.

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by The Spun

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