USA Women’s Hockey Worth Its Wait in Gold-Medal Return
The United States women’s hockey team kept a spotless Olympic run intact with a commanding 5-0 semifinal victory over Sweden, punching a ticket to Thursday’s gold-medal game (ET) against Canada. The performance underscored both depth and discipline: five different goal scorers, a shutout that extended an unprecedented defensive streak, and a reminder that in women’s Olympic hockey the North American rivalry still defines the sport.
Dominant U. S. defense and balanced attack set stage for Canada rematch
The U. S. skated with controlled aggression, turning pressure into chances and chances into goals from all over the roster. The 5-0 margin was notable not only for the variety of scorers but for what it represented defensively: the Americans have not allowed a goal in the last 331 minutes, an Olympic record, and have outscored opponents 31-1 through the tournament.
Those figures speak to system coaching and buy-in across lines. Goaltending has been airtight, forechecking relentless and transitions crisp. Five different goal scorers in the semifinal reflect roster balance rather than reliance on a single superstar — a crucial advantage when facing Canada, a familiar and formidable opponent.
The U. S. -Canada gold-medal pairing is hardly new; the two North American powerhouses have met for Olympic gold in all but one Games since the sport’s Olympic debut in 1998. That history adds weight to Thursday’s matchup (ET), promising another chapter in a rivalry fueled by intense preparation and high stakes.
Other headline moments: historic pairs gold, a long-awaited bobsled triumph, and a dramatic meltdown
Figure skating delivered Olympic milestones in the pairs event. A comeback performance vaulted a duo from fifth after the short program into Olympic gold with a massive free skate score of 158. 13 — the first-ever pairs medal for their country. The surprise silver went to a team that earned that nation’s first Winter Olympic medal. A favored German pair, which had led after the short program, slipped off the podium in a notable upset.
On the bobsled track, Elana Meyers Taylor finally crossed the top step. She won the women’s monobob by a razor-thin margin of 0. 04 seconds, clinching her first Olympic gold after compiling three career silvers and two bronzes across prior Games. The victory makes her a six-time Olympic medalist and ties her with the most decorated American women in Winter Olympic history. The moment took on added emotional weight when she hugged her two sons at the finish, calling this medal not only the top of her collection but one lived through family.
The alpine events offered a stirring, if stark, moment of emotion when a Norwegian skier who had led after the first run lost control in the second. The skier straddled a gate, then visibly crumbled — tossing poles and collapsing into the snow in frustration. The incident underlined how razor-thin margins and split-second errors can reshape Olympic narratives in an instant.
These Games continue to challenge pre-Games expectations. Several marquee names who arrived as favorites have struggled under pressure, while other athletes have seized breakthrough moments. Through it all, the U. S. women’s hockey team has maintained consistency, blending veteran leadership with opportunistic scoring and stifling defense.
Thursday’s gold-medal game (ET) will test whether that balance is enough to overcome a Canadian side that knows these stakes intimately. For fans of the sport, it’s another reminder that Olympic hockey still produces some of the most compelling rivalries and the most unpredictable drama across the Games.
