womens hockey usa: U.S. women reach Olympic semifinals after early strike and steady dominance
Team USA moved into the women’s hockey semifinals at the Milan Cortina Games on Monday, Feb. 15, 2026 (ET), extending a tournament run that has featured clinical offense and staunch defense. An early goal from Cayla Barles set the tone in the matchup with Sweden at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, where the Americans entered play 5-0 and had outscored opponents 26-1.
Early strike and relentless pressure set the tone
With 14: 51 left in the first period, Kelly Pannek worked behind the net and delivered a pass to Cayla Barles at the right face-off circle. Barles took a moment before snapping a shot past Sweden goalie Ebba Traff Svensson’s right glove, giving the Americans an immediate lead. The goal energized the crowd, many donning eagle masks in a vivid display of support, and established a momentum the U. S. rarely relinquished in Group-stage play.
The U. S. entry into the knockout round has been marked by balanced scoring and an aggressive, playmaking approach from the blue line. Defenders have been integral to the attack, with Caroline Harvey standing out as a catalyst; she led tournament scoring with nine points, driving play from the back end and creating chances at even strength and on the power play. The combination of speed, puck movement and depth up front has allowed the Americans to keep opponents on their heels throughout the competition.
Respect for an upstart Sweden and a warning against complacency
Sweden arrived in the semifinal after a 5-0 group run of its own and a quarterfinal shutout of Czechia. Sweden’s coach, Ulf Lundberg, emphasized his team’s fearlessness and suggested the matchup would be a significant test for the top-ranked Americans. His blunt observation that “the Americans are just human beings” underscored the confidence Sweden brings into single-elimination hockey.
United States coach John Wroblewski pushed back on any notion that matchups determine motivation. “We’re ready to play against anybody, and we’re excited to play anybody, ” he said, stressing focus and preparation over reacting to external narratives. Wroblewski also flagged overconfidence as a real danger: the record and large margins of victory are no guarantee in one-game semifinals, and he reminded his club that momentum can be fragile in Olympic knockout hockey.
The coming opponent for the U. S. will be the winner of the other semifinal, where defending champion Canada faces Switzerland. That side of the bracket mirrors 2014’s path to the podium, but the current tournament has taken on its own dynamics, with multiple teams showing growth and deeper rosters than in previous cycles. Sweden’s roster includes several players currently competing in the U. S. college ranks, underscoring the international depth and development at work behind the tournament’s most surprising runs.
For the Americans, the path forward is straightforward: maintain the tempo that produced a dominant five-game run, tighten up the details coach Wroblewski highlighted, and avoid the slip-ups that can flip a one-game series. With a gold-medal game on the horizon, the U. S. squad enters the semifinal determined to translate tournament success into Olympic hardware.
Final preparations are underway as Team USA shifts full attention to the next opponent, with the ultimate goal unchanged: capture the gold and end this edition of the Games atop the podium.
