Canada goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) makes a save as United States' Hilary Knight (21) and Canada's Emily Clark (26) look for the rebound during overtime of the women's gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canada’s best game of the 2026 Olympic women’s hockey tournament wasn’t enough to beat the United States for gold.
The U.S. came from behind in a game for the first time in the tournament to beat Canada 2-1 in overtime Thursday.
Defender Megan Keller scored the winner four minutes seven seconds into extra time. The U.S. won its third gold after victories in 1998 and 2018.
Canada was the underdog after seven straight losses to the U.S., including a 5-0 loss to the Americans in the preliminary round.
The archrivals clashed for Olympic women’s hockey gold a seventh time. Canada has won five gold.
It was another tight tug of war in front of a packed Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Canada led 1-0 after two periods on a short-handed goal by Kristin O’Neill, but U.S. captain Hilary Knight scored a late third-period equalizer with goalie Aerin Frankel pulled for an extra attacker.
The open ice of three-on-three overtime favoured the U.S. speed and skill.
Keller took a stretch pass from Taylor Heise, deked Canadian defender Claire Thompson – who played with an upper body injury – and beat goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens with a backhand.
Here’s a look at the gold medal game and from watch parties across Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2026.
United States goalie Aerin Frankel (31) makes a save as Canada’s Sarah Fillier (10) and teammate Natalie Spooner (24) look on during the first period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckFans cheer on Canada prior to the first period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckPrime Minister Mark Carney watches an Olympic gold medal hockey game between Canada and the United States, alongside New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville MP Jake Sawatzky, left, and Burnaby Central MP Wade Chang, right, during a watch party in Burnaby, B.C. on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan CairnsCanada goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) makes the save as Jocelyne Larocque (3) and United States’ Abbey Murphy (37) look for the puck during the second period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteCanada’s Renata Fast (14) and United States’ Hilary Knight (21) vie for control of the puck during the second period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckDebora Rodrigues knits a maple leaf mitten as she watches the gold medal women’s hockey game between Canada the United States, at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, at a pub in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangCanada’s Kristin O’Neill (43) scores a goal on United States goalie Aerin Frankel (31) during the second period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteCanada’s Kristin O’Neill (43) celebrates her goal with teammates Jocelyne Larocque (3) and Erin Ambrose (23) during the second period of the women’s gold medal hockey game against the United States, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckA fan wearing a t-shirt of Canada’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin cheers at a pub in Ottawa as they watch the gold medal women’s hockey game between Canada the United States, at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangFans at Le Nadia sports cafe in Montreal celebrate the Canadian Olympic women’s hockey team after they scored during first period of the gold medal game between Canada the United States, at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, on Thursday, Feb, 19 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher KatsarovUnited States’ Britta Curl (17) hits Canada’s Erin Ambrose (23) during the third period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckUnited States’ Hilary Knight (21) scores on Canada goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) during the third period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteUnited States’ Hilary Knight (21) celebrates a goal as Canada’s Blayre Turnbull (40) looks on during the third period of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteFans at Le Nadia sports cafe in Montreal react while watching the United States women’s hockey team play Canada in overtime of the gold medal game at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, on Thursday, Feb, 19 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher KatsarovSophie Ford, 8, watches the gold medal women’s hockey game between Canada the United States, at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, at a pub in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangUnited States’ Megan Keller (5) scores the game-winning goal against Canada goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) as Canada’s Claire Thompson (42) defends during overtime of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteCanada’s Claire Thompson (42) lies on the ice as United States’ Megan Keller (5) celebrates her game-winning goal in overtime of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckUnited States’ Megan Keller (5) celebrates the game-winning goal against Canada during overtime of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteUnited States players celebrate their 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckFans at a pub in Ottawa, watch the gold medal women’s hockey game between Canada the United States, at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangDana Hall covers her mouth with her Canadian flag as she watches Canada lose to the United States in the gold medal women’s hockey game at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, at a pub in Ottawa, on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin TangCanada players react after losing to the United States in overtime of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteCanada players react after losing to the United States in overtime of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteCanada’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin (29) embraces United States’ captain Hilary Knight (21) after to Canada’s 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckCanada’s Emily Clark (26), Emma Maltais (27), Marie-Philip Poulin (29) and goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) react to their 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckCanada players pose for a team photo with their silver medals after they lost to the U.S. in overtime during the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckUnited States players pose with their gold medals after beating Canada 2-1 in overtime of the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckCanada’s players watch the U.S. team celebrate their overtime win in the women’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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