US Hockey Wins Gold, Liu Shines: Olympics Highlights & Medal Count
Milan, Italy – The United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime Friday to win the gold medal in women’s Olympic hockey, completing a perfect run through the tournament and securing a storybook ending for veteran Hilary Knight. Megan Keller scored the winning goal, sliding a shot past Canadian goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens after receiving a pass from Taylor Heise.
Canada took an early lead less than a minute into the second period, but the U.S. Responded with relentless pressure. With their goalkeeper Aerin Frankel pulled for an extra attacker in the waning minutes of regulation, the Americans found the equalizer. Knight scored with just 1 minute and 51 seconds remaining, tipping in a shot to tie the game and simultaneously set a novel record for most Olympic goals (15) and points (33) for Team USA women’s hockey.
The victory marks the second Olympic gold medal for the U.S. Women’s hockey team in the last three Olympic cycles, continuing a dominant rivalry with Canada, which had previously won four of the first five Olympic women’s hockey tournaments. Canada has never finished worse than silver in the event. Switzerland took the bronze medal, defeating Sweden 2-1 in overtime with a goal from Alina Müller of the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
The U.S. Victory came on a day of American success at the Winter Olympics, as Alysa Liu also claimed gold in women’s singles figure skating. Liu, who previously retired from competition at age 16 after the 2022 Olympics, returned to the sport and delivered a stunning performance in the free skate, posting her best score of the season (226.79) to overtake Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto. Liu’s win is the first U.S. Gold medal in women’s singles figure skating since Sarah Hughes in 2002, and the first medal of any kind since Sasha Cohen’s silver in 2006.
In speed skating, Jordan Stolz added to the U.S. Medal count with a silver in the 1,500 meters, finishing just behind China’s Ning Zhongyan, who set an Olympic record with a time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds. Stolz’s time of 1:42.75 was a personal best but not enough to overcome Ning’s performance.
Defending champion Eileen Gu of China qualified for the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final despite a fall during her first run, clipping the lip of the halfpipe on her third trick. Gu, who has already secured silver medals in slopestyle and big air, will compete in the final on Saturday, seeking to add to her status as the most decorated women’s freestyle skier in Olympic history. Gu has competed in all three freeski events at the 2026 Games.
Laila Edwards, a member of the U.S. Hockey team, became the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in hockey with the team’s victory over Canada.