The United States women’s national hockey team has taken center stage at the Winter Olympics, dominating its competition and earning a spot in the gold medal-matchup against longtime rivals Canada. In the process, the team has drawn in massive crowds, placing women’s hockey — and women’s sports as a whole — at the forefront of the games.
The team began their skate to gold by making it to the quarterfinals after successful preliminary matchups. The quarterfinals took place on Friday, Feb. 13 at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena against Italy. USA forward Kendall Coyne Schofield led the offense, scoring two goals in a 6-0 shutout victory. The dominant USA offense overpowered Italy’s goaltender Gabriella Durante, applying constant pressure. On the other end of the ice, goaltender Gwyneth Philips led the shutout, denying several attempts by Italy early on as The USA team continued to score and maintain control of the game.
The team then moved on to the semifinals, where they faced Sweden on Monday, Feb. 16. The first goal of the game was scored by defensive player Cayla Barnes, assisted by forward Kelly Pannek, who teamed up to outsmart Swedish goaltender Svensson Träff. This dominance continued throughout the first period, where the U.S. outshot Sweden 13-2.
In the second and third periods, multiple players put up a strong effort to extend the lead of the U.S. and ultimately secure the win. Although the U.S. had a slower second period, unable to complete an attempt on goal, they stepped it up in the third period, regaining momentum and once again gaining control of the game. Forward Taylor Heise gave the U.S. a 2-0 advantage early in the third period assisted by forward Hannah Bilka. Foward Abbey Murphy continued to the strength on offense late into the period, scoring at 15:12 and giving the U.S. a 3-0 lead. Just 58 seconds later forward Kendall Coyne Schofield kept the energy going with a goal assisted by forward Laila Edwards. At 17:59, forward Hayley Scamurra sealed the game for the U.S., finishing a clean pass from forward Britta Curl-Salemme to extend the lead and secure a 5-0 victory.
Aerin Frankel ultimately anchored the shutout performance in the net. Frankel recorded 23 saves, with 13 being recorded in the second period. This marks Frankel’s third shutout of the tournament, becoming the first goaltender in Olympic women’s history to do so.
The semifinal win brought the U.S. to the gold medal matchup, where they faced arch-rival Canada on Thursday, Feb. 19. The U.S. has appeared in all but one gold medal matchup since women’s ice hockey entered the games in 1998, displaying the dominance of U.S. women’s hockey. Each time the U.S. take on the Canadians — who have long been a hockey powerhouse — but have walked away with just three goal medals.
The U.S. battled throughout the whole game, winning the game in overtime 2-1 after being behind throughout much of the matchup. The U.S. previously played Canada in the preliminary round shutting them out 10-0 but in this matchup, Canada brought their strength, turning this game into a more competitive game.
The U.S. trailed much of the game, until forward Hilary Knight scored with less than three minutes remaining to send the game into overtime. As the game moved into sudden-death overtime, Megan Keller secured her name in Olympic history, scoring the golden goal to capture the gold for the U.S.
The game also marks the end of Hilary Knight’s Olympic career, which ends in historic fashion with a second gold medal and fifth overall Olympic medal. Knight holds the record now for most overall medals, gold medals, all-time points and goals.
The gold secured U.S.’s women’s hockey’s place in history and reaffirmed the program’s dominance, making a triumphant statement after falling to Canada in every Olympic meeting since 2018.