United States defeats Canada 2-1 in overtime to win gold in women’s hockey at Winter Olympics

The United States captured the gold medal in women’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday, edging Canada 2-1 in a tightly contested final that extended into overtime.

Canada opened the scoring early in the second period when Kristin O’Neill capitalized on a shorthanded breakaway, giving her team a 1-0 lead. The advantage held for much of the game as both sides traded chances in a fast-paced and physical matchup that reflected the long-standing Olympic rivalry between the two programs.

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation time, veteran forward Hilary Knight tied the game for the United States, sending the contest into a 3-on-3 overtime period. Just over four minutes into overtime, Megan Keller scored the decisive goal at the 4:07 mark, sealing the victory and the gold medal for the American team.

The result adds another chapter to the storied Canada–U.S. rivalry in women’s hockey, a fixture of Olympic competition for more than two decades. The final once again underscored the narrow margin that often separates the two North American teams on the world stage.