The United States Women’s National Ice Hockey Team won gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics! The United States battled its longtime rival, Canada, for the gold medal. The 2-1 overtime win sealed the deal and marked the third time the U.S. has won gold at the Olympics in women’s ice hockey. Gold in Nagano ‘98, gold in PyeongChang ‘18, and gold in Milan-Cortina ‘26.
I, personally, am a passionate women’s ice hockey fan. I’ve been watching the women’s game since 2013, and I’ve experienced the trials and tribulations as every other passionate sports fan does. I was heartbroken in 2014 when they lost in Sochi. I was up at the wee hours in 2018 when they won gold in PyeongChang. I suffered another heartbreak in Beijing 2022. This time, I was watching the overtime period in my boss’s office when they won gold in Milan-Cortina 2026.
The Olympic team took three players with ties to New York State to Milan: Hayley Scamurra, Gettsville, NY; Haley Winn, Rochester, NY; and Aerin Frankel, Chappaqua, NY.
The U.S. women’s hockey team has quite possibly put on its best performance to date in an international tournament. Let’s take a look at the numbers; they outscored their opponents 33 to 2, shut out their opponents in five out of seven games, scored five goals in every game except the final game, and went undefeated in the tournament. NY-native Aerin Frankel stood tall in the crease, serving as the brick wall behind the offensive power and structurally sound defense.
I’ve watched the players on Team USA compete for years. I’ve followed some of their careers since high school. I’ve seen them win National Championships in college, I’ve seen them win championships at the professional level, and I’ve seen some [6] win gold at the Olympics twice. I’m emotionally invested in this team, my heart rate spikes when they play Canada, and my mood is based entirely on whether they win or lose. I also thrive on obtaining and storing useless knowledge about the team that only brings me joy.
Canada struck first. My nerves, which were already in a spiral, were now even more on edge. There’s 2:04 left in regulation, and the captain, Hilary Knight, stepped up big and tied the game to force OT. It’s not US versus Canada without sudden death; that’s just a fact. What is normally agonizingly long only took 4:07 to clinch the gold. Megan Keller made quick work of the defender and slipped the puck behind Ann-Renee Desbiens off her backhand.
Free Bird blasted through the speakers inside Milano Santagiulia Ice Arena as the United States hightailed it off the bench and made a beeline for the Michigan native [Keller]. There are not many words to describe what it feels like to watch your favorite team win something shiny. Pure joy, maybe.
Team USA was made up of a mix of collegiate and veteran presence. The group was a cohesive unit in Milan, showcasing why they’re the best in the world. For some veterans, this Olympic cycle may be their last. For Hilary Knight, it was. She emerged on the international scene in 2006, in what was just the start of her illustrious ice hockey career. She’s been chasing gold since 2010. In her fifth and final Olympics she had a hand in securing the gold medal for her team, thus completing the storybook ending. In her final Olympic Games, Knight was selected, along with figure skater Evan Bates, to represent Team USA as the closing ceremony flag bearers.
The United States Women’s Ice Hockey Team came to Milan with one goal in mind: gold. Just because the Olympics are over doesn’t mean women’s hockey is too. They play collegiately in the NCAA and in the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League). Watch women’s sports, support women’s sports.
