USA Stuns Canada in Overtime to Reclaim Olympic Gold in Epic Showdown
History has been rewritten on Olympic ice and it came down to a single backhand in overtime.
The United States has defeated Canada 2–1 in overtime to win the women’s ice hockey gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games and once again the fiercest rivalry in the sport delivered a final for the ages.
For nearly three periods, it looked like Canada might hold on. Kristin O’Neill gave the Canadians the lead early in the second period with a shorthanded goal, silencing the American attack and putting pressure on a U.S. team that had barely trailed all tournament. Canada defended hard, their goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens standing tall and time began to slip away for the Americans.
But championship teams do not panic and this rivalry rarely follows a script.
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With just over two minutes left in regulation and their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, the United States found its moment. Hilary Knight, playing in what was expected to be her final Olympic appearance, redirected a shot into the net to tie the game 1–1. It was a defining goal, not just in the match, but in her career. Knight now holds Olympic records for goals and points by an American player, man or woman, cementing her legacy on the sport’s biggest stage.
Then came overtime. Three-on-three. Open ice. One mistake could end it.
Just over four minutes in, defender Megan Keller carried the puck into the zone, cut toward the net and slipped a backhand shot past Desbiens. Gold for the United States. Silver for Canada. And another unforgettable chapter in a rivalry that has defined women’s Olympic hockey since the sport debuted in 1998.
This victory is significant. It is the United States’ first Olympic gold in women’s hockey since 2018, after Canada claimed the title in 2022. It also marks a tournament of dominance for the Americans, who went undefeated and showcased depth, discipline and elite goaltending from Aerin Frankel.
For Canada, the loss is heartbreaking but historic in its own right. They have now medaled in every Olympic women’s hockey tournament ever played, underlining just how narrow the gap remains between these two powerhouses.
The balance of power in women’s hockey continues to swing, but the rivalry remains the heartbeat of the sport. And if this final proved anything, it is that when the United States and Canada meet for gold, the world watches.
Stay with us for continuing coverage of the Milano Cortina Winter Games and the stories still unfolding on the Olympic stage.
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