• Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in an overtime thriller to win gold.
• Hilary Knight tied the game late in regulation, marking her record 15th Olympic goal.
• Megan Keller scored the game-winner in overtime for the USA.

In a gripping finale at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Team USA triumphed over Canada, winning 2-1 in overtime to secure their third Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey. After trailing late in the third period, Hilary Knight tied the game, sending it into an overtime period where Megan Keller ultimately clinched victory. This match marked a significant comeback as it avenged the U.S.'s previous finals loss against Canada four years prior, according to CBS, Reuters, and Le Monde.

The game took place at the Santagiulia Arena, where Canada initially took the lead with a shorthanded goal from Kristin O'Neill, breaking the U.S.'s impressive shutout streak of over 351 minutes during the tournament. However, Knight's late equalizer, a deft deflection off a shot from Laila Edwards, tied the score with just over two minutes remaining, intensifying the rivalry's legacy as one of ice hockey's greatest, according to CBS, Reuters, and Le Monde.

In overtime, Keller utilized her skill to evade a defender and score the winning goal past Canadian goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens. The win not only highlighted the U.S. team’s extraordinary performance throughout the tournament, where they outscored opponents 31-1, but also marked their first gold medal victory since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. The U.S. team celebrated wildly, showcasing the emotional high of achieving this significant milestone, according to CBS, Reuters, and Le Monde.