The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the women’s ice hockey gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday 19 February 2026. Megan Keller scored the winning goal early in the extra session after Hilary Knight had tied the game with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, delivering Team USA its third Olympic women’s hockey title.
What is the Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament?
The Olympic women’s ice hockey tournament brings together ten national teams split into two groups, with all teams advancing to a knockout quarter-final after the round robin. Matches are played across 20-minute periods, with regulation followed by overtime and then a shootout if needed. The top two group teams enter the quarter-finals at an advantage.
Women’s ice hockey has been on the Olympic programme since Nagano 1998 and has been dominated throughout that time by Canada and the United States, with the two nations contesting every gold medal game except one (2006) since the event’s introduction.
When did the Gold Medal Game Take Place?
The final was played on Thursday 19 February 2026, face-off in the evening local time. It ended in overtime after a back-and-forth 60 minutes of regulation.
Where was it Held?
The game was held at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, a new-build 16,000-seat venue in the Santa Giulia district on the southeastern side of the city. The arena will continue life as a professional ice hockey venue after the Games. Pool play games were also staged at the Pine Arena in the Trentino region.
Results
Canada scored first on a shorthanded goal from Kristin O’Neill and led for most of the game. Hilary Knight tied the score with 2:04 remaining in the third period. In overtime, Megan Keller fired home the golden goal to secure the United States’ third Olympic women’s hockey title and first since PyeongChang 2018.
Gold for the United States. Silver for Canada. Finland beat Czechia to take bronze earlier in the day.
Background and Form Going In
The United States and Canada had again set themselves apart in the build-up, with the two teams trading victories in the Rivalry Series. Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin, captain and two-time Olympic golden-goal scorer, was the tournament’s biggest star. The US had centred its squad around veterans Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
History and Records
The US has now won three Olympic women’s hockey gold medals (1998, 2018, 2026), while Canada holds five. Every gold medal game since 1998 except PyeongChang 2018 had gone past regulation in the past two Olympic cycles. The Knight goal was her eighth career Olympic goal, extending her record.
How to Watch (Replays)
Replays and highlights are available on olympics.com, NBC and Peacock in the United States, CBC and TSN in Canada, BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, and Eurosport across Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in women’s ice hockey at Milano Cortina 2026?
The United States, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime.
When was the gold medal game played?
Thursday 19 February 2026 at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan.
Who scored the winning goal?
Megan Keller, early in overtime after Hilary Knight had tied the game late in regulation.
Who won bronze?
Finland, beating Czechia.