Team USA Women's Hockey Extends Historic Shutout Streak at Olympics

The U.S. women's hockey team is on an unprecedented run of dominance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The United States women's hockey team has clinched victory after victory at the Milan Cortina Olympics this winter, including a dominant 5-0 win over Sweden in the semifinals. Goaltender Aerin Frankel made a record-breaking 23 saves and extended the Americans' shutout streak to 331 minutes and 23 seconds, the longest run in Olympic history. The last time the U.S. women's hockey team let in a goal was in their first game against Czechia.

Why it matters

The U.S. women's hockey team's historic shutout streak and dominant performance at the Olympics showcases their status as one of the greatest hockey teams in Olympic history. Their success has captured the attention of fans and raised the profile of women's hockey on the global stage.

The details

Team USA is preparing for a gold medal match against longtime rival Canada on Thursday after blowing the rest of their opponents out of the water. The U.S. women's team has a 31-1 goal differential and a 254-95 shot differential in the tournament so far. Goaltender Aerin Frankel has stopped 67 of the 68 shots she's faced across four starts, and she credits the team's strong defensive play for the ongoing shutout record.

  • The U.S. women's hockey team's shutout streak began in their first game against Czechia.
  • The previous women's Olympic record for longest shutout streak was held by Canada in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
  • The overall Olympic record for longest shutout streak was held by the 1924 Team USA men's hockey squad at 245 minutes.
  • The U.S. women's team will face Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday, February 20, 2026 at 1:10 p.m. ET.

The players

Aerin Frankel

The starting goaltender for the U.S. women's hockey team, who has been instrumental in the team's historic shutout streak.

Barbora Jurickova

A forward for the Czechia women's hockey team, who scored the lone goal against the U.S. in the tournament.

Team USA Women's Hockey

The U.S. women's national ice hockey team, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey teams in Olympic history.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The team is playing so well in front of me defensively. They're making my job easy, making the plays in front of me predictable so I can do my job. And I think we're all just playing together as a group, and that's our strength. ... That makes us a pretty hard team to score on.”

— Aerin Frankel, Goaltender, Team USA Women's Hockey

What’s next

The U.S. women's hockey team will face off against Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday, February 20, 2026 at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Americans will be looking to avenge their 2022 Olympic loss to Canada and cement their status as one of the greatest hockey teams in Olympic history.

The takeaway

The U.S. women's hockey team's historic shutout streak and dominant performance at the 2026 Olympics have solidified their reputation as one of the most formidable teams in the sport. Their success has captivated fans and raised the profile of women's hockey on the global stage, inspiring the next generation of players and showcasing the incredible talent and skill of the American squad.