Hilary Knight named Team USA Olympic flag bearer for closing ceremonies

Seattle Torrent and Team USA captain Hilary Knight will carry the United States flag at the Winter Olympics' closing ceremony Sunday.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Hilary Knight, a 36-year-old forward competing in her fifth and final Olympics for the USA women's hockey team, has been named the flag bearer for Team USA at the Winter Olympics' closing ceremony. Knight led her team to gold on Thursday after scoring the game-tying goal in the final two minutes of the gold medal game against Canada. She will share the flag with five-time Olympian Evan Bates, who earned gold in the figure skating team event and silver in ice dancing.

Why it matters

Knight's selection as flag bearer is a fitting capstone to her illustrious Olympic career, which includes two gold medals and three silver medals. She is the record-holder for the most career goals (15) and points (33) in U.S. Olympic women's hockey history. Carrying the flag at the closing ceremony is considered one of the highest honors for an Olympian.

The details

Knight, who is competing in her fifth and final Olympics, led the U.S. women's hockey team to gold on Thursday after scoring the game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation against Canada. Her goal helped send the game to overtime, where her teammate Megan Keller scored the game-winner. Knight is the record-holder for the most career goals (15) and points (33) in U.S. Olympic women's hockey history. She will share the flag-bearing duties with five-time Olympian Evan Bates, who earned gold in the figure skating team event and silver in ice dancing.

  • The closing ceremony will take place at the Verona Arena, a 2,000-year-old amphitheater, at 11:30 a.m. PT on Sunday.
  • Knight led the U.S. women's hockey team to gold on Thursday after scoring the game-tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation against Canada.

The players

Hilary Knight

A 36-year-old forward competing in her fifth and final Olympics for the USA women's hockey team. She is the record-holder for the most career goals (15) and points (33) in U.S. Olympic women's hockey history.

Megan Keller

Hilary Knight's teammate on the U.S. women's hockey team who scored the game-winning goal in overtime to secure the gold medal.

Evan Bates

A five-time Olympian who earned gold in the figure skating team event and silver in ice dancing with his partner and wife, Madison Chock. He will share the flag-bearing duties with Hilary Knight.

Brittany Bowe

Hilary Knight's longtime partner, who is a four-time Olympian and two-time bronze medalist in long-track speedskating. Knight proposed to Bowe during the Olympics.

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What’s next

The closing ceremony will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.

The takeaway

Hilary Knight's selection as the flag bearer for Team USA at the closing ceremony is a fitting capstone to her illustrious Olympic career, which includes two gold medals and three silver medals. Her proposal to longtime partner Brittany Bowe during the Olympics adds to the special nature of this moment, as Knight prepares to retire from international competition.