US and Canada to Compete for 7th Olympic Women's Hockey Gold

The border rivals will meet in the gold medal game for the 7th time since women's hockey debuted at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The United States and Canada will face off for the Olympic gold medal in women's hockey for the seventh time since the sport debuted at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. The border rivals have developed an intense rivalry over the decades, with the gold medal game between the two nations becoming a fixture at the Winter Games.

Why it matters

The US-Canada women's hockey rivalry is one of the most storied in international sports, with the two powerhouses dominating the Olympic tournament since its inception. Their gold medal showdown has become a must-watch event for fans of the sport.

The details

The US and Canada have met in the gold medal game at every Olympic women's hockey tournament except 2006, when Sweden won gold. The two North American rivals have combined to win every Olympic title since women's hockey was added to the Winter Games program.

  • Women's hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Nagano Games.
  • The US and Canada have met in the gold medal game at 6 of the 7 Olympic women's hockey tournaments.

The players

United States Women's National Ice Hockey Team

The US women's hockey team is one of the most successful national teams in the sport, having won 4 Olympic gold medals and 8 world championship titles.

Canada Women's National Ice Hockey Team

The Canadian women's hockey team is also an international powerhouse, having won 5 Olympic gold medals and 11 world championship titles.

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What they’re saying

“This rivalry is the best in women's hockey. The intensity and passion these two teams bring to the ice is unmatched.”

— Cammi Granato, Former US Women's National Team Captain

What’s next

The gold medal game between the US and Canada is scheduled for February 21st at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics.

The takeaway

The US-Canada women's hockey rivalry has become one of the must-see events at the Winter Olympics, with the two North American powers battling for supremacy in a sport they have dominated for decades.