Olympics 2026: Live updates from USA-Canada women's hockey gold medal game - ESPN

ESPN

by ESPN Staff

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The highly anticipated gold medal clash between the United States and Canada in women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics has arrived, marking the pinnacle of competition in a sport dominated by these two powerhouse nations. The match represents the ultimate showdown between two teams with a storied rivalry and unparalleled dominance on the international stage. With both sides boasting rich histories of Olympic success, this game promises to be a thrilling spectacle filled with skill, strategy, and intense competition. Women’s ice hockey has been a part of the Olympic Games since its debut at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, and since then, only the United States and Canada have claimed gold medals. The U.S. team swept the Rivalry Series earlier in the tournament and defeated Canada convincingly with a 5-0 victory in the preliminary round. However, Canada remains a formidable opponent, having won the last Olympic gold medal in Beijing four years ago. This clash not only determines the

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Originally published on ESPN on 2/19/2026