Megan Keller's Overtime Goal Wins USA Women's Hockey Gold Medal Over Canada at 2026 Milan Olympics

The United States women's hockey team is Olympic champion once again. In one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the rivalry, the USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, February 19, to claim the gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. It is the program's third Olympic gold medal, and first since 2018 — delivered in breathtaking fashion by veteran defenseman Megan Keller and a record-breaking final act from captain Hilary Knight.

Megan Keller Delivers the Golden Goal

With the womens hockey gold medal game locked at 1-1 and both teams heading into sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime, it was Megan Keller who rose to the defining moment. Just over four minutes into the extra period, Keller received a stretch pass from Taylor Heise — who caught the Canadians mid-line change — at the Canadian blue line. Facing down defender Claire Thompson one-on-one, Keller slid the puck through Thompson's stick and skates, danced around her, and buried the shot through the pads of goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens to end the game.

The arena erupted. Helmets and gloves flew across the ice. Chants of "U-S-A" rolled through the building. Keller — not typically known as an offensive force — had just etched her name into USA hockey history with a move that required nerve, creativity, and perfect execution under Olympic-level pressure.

"This is the moment that you dream of and you work for your entire life," Keller said in the aftermath of the women's hockey gold medal game.

Hilary Knight Ties the Game and Breaks Records

The Megan Keller goal would not have been possible without a clutch performance from captain Hilary Knight. With Team USA trailing 1-0 and time winding down in the third period, the 36-year-old Knight — playing in her fifth and final Olympic Games — deflected a shot from defenseman Laila Edwards past Desbiens with just 2:04 left in regulation to force overtime.

The goal was Knight's 15th of her Olympic career, breaking the US Women's Hockey record previously shared by Natalie Darwitz and Katie King. The tally also pushed her to 33 career Olympic points, breaking the record held by Jenny Potter. Knight entered the women's hockey gold medal game needing just one goal to claim the record outright — and delivered it on hockey's biggest stage.

"There was no way we were losing this game," Knight said. "That's all. Simple as that."

Knight, who announced earlier this year that Milan Cortina would be her final Olympics, exits the Games as the most decorated player in US women's hockey history — with two Olympic gold medals, 15 Olympic goals, and 33 career Olympic points to her name.

Canada's Shorthanded Goal Forces USA to Fight Back

For much of the womens hockey final, it was Canada who controlled the narrative. Unlike their 5-0 group-stage demolition at the hands of the Americans nine days earlier, the Canadians came out aggressive and structured, stifling a US offense that had outscored opponents 31-1 through the first six games of the tournament.

The go-ahead goal came shorthanded early in the second period. A puck careened off the glass awkwardly into the path of Laura Stacey, who converted a 2-on-1 with Megan Keller back as the lone defender — feeding Kristin O'Neill for a clean finish. It was only the second goal Team USA had allowed in the entire Olympics.

Marie-Philip Poulin — who had scored the gold-medal-winning goal in three previous Olympics — returned from injury and played a significant role in energizing the Canadian side after missing the earlier blowout loss. Canada coach Troy Ryan credited a defensive game plan built around frustrating the American attack.

USA Women's Hockey Coach John Wroblewski's Emotional Reaction Goes Viral

While his players celebrated on the ice, USA women's hockey coach John Wroblewski stood at the bench, overcome with emotion. The image of Wroblewski in tears as Keller's goal secured the gold medal spread widely online and became one of the defining moments of the Milan Cortina Games.

Wroblewski, 44, took over as head coach of the US Women's National Team in August 2022. He led the program to the 2023 and 2025 IIHF Women's World Championships before bringing the squad to its first Olympic gold since 2018. He went viral a second time when cameras caught him asking Hilary Knight to hold her gold medal — admiring its weight and craftsmanship since, per Olympic rules, coaches do not receive medals.

"I don't get a gold medal here if we win, which is great," Wroblewski had said before the final. "I feel like it should only be the athletes. It's kind of like, 'Are you motivated by prize as a coach, or are you motivated by service?'"

A Dominant Olympic Run for USA Womens Hockey

The womens hockey gold medal capped one of the most statistically dominant Olympic tournaments in the history of the sport. Team USA allowed only two goals the entire Games, finishing with a plus-29 goal differential. Ten players registered at least five points across the tournament, six more than any other country.

The US women also extended their winning streak against Canada in international play to eight consecutive games — a run that includes a sweep of the four-game pre-Olympic Rivalry Series by a combined score of 24-7. Canada won the silver medal in Milan, while Switzerland claimed bronze.

Aerin Frankel and the USA Women's Hockey Roster's Historic Achievement

Goaltender Aerin Frankel anchored the US Women's Hockey roster throughout the tournament, surrendering only two goals across seven games. Her performance, combined with a ferocious offensive attack and the steady leadership of veterans like Keller and Knight, gave USA Hockey a squad widely considered the best US women's team ever assembled.

"I've been on some great teams, with a lot of great teammates, great players, Hall of Famers," four-time Olympian Coyne Schofield said. "But this one is special for sure."

For the US women's hockey team, its players, and USA hockey coach John Wroblewski, the gold medal earned in Milan is not just a championship — it is the culmination of years of preparation, an 8-game winning streak over rival Canada, and a final 60-minute stretch of hockey that showcased everything that makes the rivalry between these two programs the crown jewel of womens olympic hockey.