11 Badgers Compete in Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medal Game

Fans packed The Sett at UW-Madison to cheer on current and former Badger players on Team USA and Team Canada.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina featured a women's hockey gold medal game between Team USA and Team Canada, with 11 current and former University of Wisconsin-Madison players competing across the two teams. Badger fans gathered at The Sett on the UW-Madison campus to watch the thrilling matchup, cheering as UW alum and Team USA captain Hilary Knight scored the game-tying goal in the final minutes of regulation.

Why it matters

The strong representation of Badger women's hockey players on the Olympic stage highlights the program's continued excellence and the university's reputation for developing elite talent. The viewing party at The Sett brought the campus community together to support their fellow Badgers competing on the world's biggest athletic stage.

The details

Team USA would eventually defeat Team Canada in overtime to claim the gold medal. In total, 11 Badgers took home medals from the tournament, cementing Wisconsin's status as a powerhouse in women's hockey.

  • The women's hockey gold medal game took place on February 16, 2026.
  • Hilary Knight scored the game-tying goal in the final minutes of regulation.

The players

Hilary Knight

A University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna and captain of the U.S. women's hockey team, who scored the game-tying goal against Canada.

Laila Edwards

A current University of Wisconsin-Madison student and member of the U.S. women's hockey team.

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The takeaway

The strong representation of Badger women's hockey players on the Olympic stage is a testament to the program's continued excellence and the university's reputation for developing elite talent. The viewing party at The Sett brought the campus community together to support their fellow Badgers competing on the world's biggest athletic stage.