2026 Olympic women’s hockey gold medal game preview: USA vs. Canada
Here we go again.
For the seventh time in the history of women’s hockey at the Winter Olympics, Canada and the United States will face off for the gold medal.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
The United States has been an unstoppable freight train. For the first time since the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the team went undefeated in the group stage, outscoring their opponents 20-1. That included a convincing 5-0 win over Canada to clinch the top spot in Group A. That dominance only continued into the knockout stage. After beating the host nation, Italy, in the quarterfinals, the Americans came away with a 5-0 victory over the Group B winners, Sweden.
Things haven’t been as easy for Canada. After their tournament opener was delayed, they had to play most of the last three games of the preliminary round without their captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, who suffered a lower-body injury against Czechia. Following the loss to the Americans, the Canadians started to look like themselves with wins over Finland and Germany to make it back to the semifinals. Canada then got past Switzerland, with Poulin breaking Hayley Wickenheiser’s all-time women’s goal-scoring record at the Winter Games.
WHEN THEY LAST MET
It was just last Tuesday that Canada was embarrassed by their northern rivals. Caroline Harvey and Hannah Bilka powered the team to the victory, not only showing that they are favorites to win gold in Milan, but seemingly the only favorite. It marked the first time Canada has lost in the opening stage since the inaugural tournament in 1998.
The victory made it seven straight games for the U.S. over Canada, the longest win streak since the Americans won eight in a row heading into the final in Salt Lake City in 2002.
Canada is 7-4 against the Americans at the Olympics, including a 5-2 record in gold medal games. Canada has a record of 106-87-1 across all competitions against the U.S.
TOP SCORERS
United States
Caroline Harvey, 9 pts
Hannah Bilka, 7 pts
Megan Keller, 7 pts
Laila Edwards, 7 pts
Abbey Murphy, 7 pts
Canada
Daryl Watts, 8 pts
Sarah Fillier, 6 pts
Julia Gosling, 5 pts
Three players with 4 pts
SCOUTING REPORT
United States
If you want me to list the holes in this U.S. lineup, this is going to be a short section.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – this is the best women’s hockey team ever sent to the Olympics. While the team has legends like Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Alex Carpenter, the team’s youth has been leading the way. The team’s star power starts with Caroline Harvey. The electrifying defender has been on a tear in Milan, leading the tournament with nine points in six games. She and fellow Wisconsin defender Laila Edwards have been tough to stop in the tournament.
Second-year pro Hannah Bilka has been having a true coming-out performance. Along with a couple of goals against Canada, she has found the back of the net four times, sitting tied with Sweden’s Thea Johansson for the most in the tournament. I almost forgot to mention Abbey Murphy, who is a scary force with or without the puck.
Along with a high-scoring attack, they have Aerin Frankel. The Green Monster has set an Olympic record with three shutouts in the tournament, helping the team set the longest shutout streak in women’s hockey at the Winter Games, having not given up a goal in 331:23.
Canada
If there’s any chance Canada has of getting revenge, general manager Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan are going to need all of those experienced players they insisted on bringing to Italy to step up. Obviously, Poulin, who didn’t play in the group-stage matchup against Team USA, is going to be at her best. We all remember how she was battling injury heading into the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Yet, when the chips were down, Captain Clutch rose to the occasion. Whether she’s 100% or 75%, she’s going to be at her best with the gold medal on the line.
For the rest of the veterans, Canada needs more. Jocelyne Larocque has struggled, as has Erin Ambrose and Natalie Spooner. Brianne Jenner has been solid, but her depth role has limited her ability to rack up points.
Canada’s “youth” has been important in their success. Julia Gosling has been a great piece to a power play that is tops in the tournament. Sarah Fillier has been solid as well, with Daryl Watts making the most of her first Olympic endeavor. Playing with Poulin has given Watts the ability to showcase her talent on the international stage.
BURNING QUESTIONS
Will Canada’s championship pedigree come through?
The number of major international championships across this roster is staggering – a combined 53 world championship gold medals and 21 Olympic titles. However, will all those winning resumes lead to a win on Thursday? The “been there, done that” mentality might keep Canada in the game, maybe even bring the group confidence in a winner-take-all game. However, given how the U.S. has run Canada’s show for the past 10 months, Canadians might have some doubts in the back of their minds.
Will the Americans beat themselves?
The U.S. has such a deep roster, with everyone contributing in one way or another. The youngsters are taking the torch before our very eyes. They have been unbeatable in any competition – Women’s Worlds, Rivalry Series, Olympics – even toying with some of their opponents. There’s a clear swagger this team has shown, and an unbreakable bond that no team has been able to infiltrate. The only way of stopping this freight train is if it were to derail.
PREDICTION
As much as Canadians would love to see a repeat of the upset that occurred 24 years ago in Utah, it’s going to take a lot for Canada to completely turn the narrative that the world saw firsthand last week. The U.S. is younger, stronger, faster and just plain better than Canada. I don’t think the Canadians are going to be beaten as handily as they were last week, but the Americans are going to prove to be too much and win the team’s first gold medal in eight years.
The gold medal game in Milan is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, with puck drop scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.