U.S. women’s hockey unbeaten, heads into Canada gold-medal showdown
The U. S. women's hockey team continued its dominant run at the Winter Olympics, blanking Sweden 5-0 in the semifinal and advancing to Thursday’s gold-medal game. The performance underscored a deep, balanced roster that has not allowed a goal in an Olympic-record 331 minutes and has outscored opponents 31-1 on the way to the final.
Dominance on both ends sends Team USA back to familiar showdown
In a semifinal that offered few doubts, five different American scorers found the net as the U. S. overpowered Sweden, showcasing a combination of relentless forechecking, crisp zone entries and airtight defensive structure. Goaltending has been flawless: the team’s shutout streak now stands at 331 minutes, the longest in Olympic history, and their collective play has neutralized the counterattacks that troubled other contenders at these Games.
The upcoming gold-medal matchup will once again pit the United States against Canada, a rivalry that has defined women’s Olympic hockey since the sport’s Olympic debut in 1998. The two North American powerhouses have met for the gold in all but one tournament since then, and this latest encounter promises more of the same intensity and tactical chess between two rosters stocked with international experience.
Coaching adjustments, depth scoring and special-teams efficiency have all served the U. S. well. While many favorites across the Winter Games have faltered under pressure, the women’s hockey squad has been largely untroubled, blending veteran leadership with rising contributors who have stepped up at crucial moments. The semifinal’s spread of goal scorers was the clearest illustration yet that this is not a one-line team—matchups and late-game depth could again be decisive in the title tilt.
Gold in monobob and pair skating shocks: highlights from the day
Beyond the rink, the Olympic program produced a pair of memorable results. Elana Meyers Taylor captured her first Olympic gold in the women’s monobob, edging her nearest rival by a razor-thin margin of 0. 04 seconds. The victory completed a remarkable Olympic résumé: Meyers Taylor has now medaled at every Winter Games she has entered since 2010 and joined the ranks of the most decorated American women in Winter Olympics history.
After the medal ceremony, Meyers Taylor embraced her two sons and reflected on the moment. “This is definitely the top, not only the Olympic champion, but to be able to do this with my kids, both my kids—like it’s just incredible, ” she said to reporters. Her gold is also a milestone for representation in winter sport competition, capping a long career of near-misses and podium finishes with the one prize that had eluded her.
Figure skating produced its own drama and history. A pair that entered the free skate fifth posted an outstanding 158. 13 to claim gold, delivering the first-ever Olympic medal for their nation in the pairs event. Another duo captured silver and celebrated their country’s first Winter Olympic medal in history. The results upended the standings: a team that led after the short program was pushed off the podium entirely after a rough free skate, underscoring how quickly fortunes can change under Olympic pressure.
The day’s emotional moments were not all triumph. A men’s alpine competitor who led after the first run lost control in his second and reacted in visible frustration, abandoning his gate run and collapsing in the snow. The image was a raw reminder of how fine the margins are at this level: one mistake can erase hours of preparation and a lead built on earlier excellence.
As the Games move toward their final days, the U. S. women’s hockey team will prepare for the familiar, high-stakes rivalry with Canada, while the wider Olympic program continues to offer unexpected champions and heartbreak in equal measure.
