US and Canada to Face Off for 7th Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medal

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. This long-standing rivalry between the North American neighbors has produced some of the most dramatic and intense matchups in Olympic history.

Why it matters

Women's hockey has become one of the marquee events at the Winter Olympics, with the US-Canada showdown consistently drawing huge global audiences. The gold medal game is seen as a clash of the titans, with the two powerhouse programs dominating the sport for decades.

The details

The US and Canada have met in the gold medal game at every Olympics since women's hockey was first introduced, with the exception of 2006 when Sweden won gold. The two teams have developed an intense rivalry, with each seeking to assert their dominance over the other on the international stage.

  • Women's hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1998 Nagano Games.
  • The US and Canada have met in the gold medal game at every Olympics since 1998, except for 2006.

The players

United States Women's National Ice Hockey Team

The US women's hockey team is one of the most successful programs in the sport, having won 4 Olympic gold medals.

Canada Women's National Ice Hockey Team

The Canadian women's hockey team is also an international powerhouse, having won 4 Olympic gold medals and dominated the sport for decades.

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The takeaway

The US-Canada women's hockey rivalry is one of the most storied and intense in all of international sports. Their gold medal showdown at the Olympics is always must-watch television, as the two North American superpowers battle for supremacy in this thrilling event.