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Full History of Team USA Women’s Hockey vs. Canada Rivalry Ahead of Gold Medal Game

For the seventh time in eight Olympic competitions, the women’s hockey tournament comes down to a matchup between the U.S. and Canada.
The U.S. defeated Canada 5–0 in the preliminary round at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
The U.S. defeated Canada 5–0 in the preliminary round at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. | Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

It all comes down to this.

After dominating in all six of their tilts at the 2026 Winter Olympics—four preliminary contests and two blowout wins in the playoff round—No. 1 Team USA women’s hockey has set the table for a matchup against No. 2 Canada in the gold medal game.

There have been eight women’s hockey competitions at the Winter Olympics since the event joined the Games in 1998. Seven of them—including this year—have been decided with a Team USA-Canada gold medal final.

RELATED: Team USA vs. Canada: Three Bold Predictions for Women’s Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game

Before the puck drops to decide the gold medal winner in 2026, here’s a look back at every U.S.-Canada matchup at the Olympics in women’s hockey—and who holds the edge.

Full history at Olympics in women’s hockey: Team USA vs. Canada

1998 Winter Olympics—Nagano, Japan

  • Feb. 14, 1998: Team USA 7, Canada 4
  • Feb. 17, 1998: Team USA 3, Canada 1 (🥇 gold medal game)

2002 Winter Olympics—Salt Lake City, Utah

  • Feb. 21, 2002: Canada 3, Team USA 2 (🥇 gold medal game)

2006 Winter Olympics—Torino, Italy

  • No Team USA-Canada games.

2010 Winter Olympics—Vancouver, B.C., Canada

  • Feb. 25, 2010: Canada 2, Team USA 0 (🥇 gold medal game)

2014 Winter Olympics—Sochi, Russia

  • Feb. 12, 2014: Canada 3, Team USA 2
  • Feb. 20, 2014: Canada 3, Team USA 2 (OT; 🥇 gold medal game)

2018 Winter Olympics—PyeongChang, South Korea

  • Feb. 15, 2018: Canada 2, Team USA 1
  • Feb. 22, 2018: Team USA 3, Canada 2 (shootout; 🥇 gold medal game)

2022 Winter Olympics—Beijing, China

  • Feb. 8, 2022: Canada 4, Team USA 2
  • Feb. 17, 2022: Canada 3, Team USA 2 (🥇 gold medal game)

2026 Winter Olympics—Milan Cortina, Italy

  • Feb. 10, 2026: Team USA 5, Canada 0
  • Feb. 19, 2026: 🥇 Gold medal game: Team USA vs. Canada—1:10 p.m. ET; USA Network

Summary

Entering the 2026 Milan Cortina gold medal game, Team USA women’s hockey has an all-time 4–7 record against Canada in the Olympics, and is 2–4 against Canada in past gold medal games.

All six previous Team USA-Canada gold medal games have been decided by two goals or less—and twice it has gone to a shootout and overtime.

Expect another nail-biter on Thursday.

Full history at Olympics in women’s hockey: List of medalists by year

1998 Winter Olympics—Nagano, Japan

  • Gold: Team USA 🇺🇸
  • Silver: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Bronze: Finland 🇫🇮

2002 Winter Olympics—Salt Lake City, Utah

  • Gold: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Silver: Team USA 🇺🇸
  • Bronze: Sweden 🇸🇪

2006 Winter Olympics—Torino, Italy

  • Gold: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Silver: Sweden 🇸🇪
  • Bronze: Team USA 🇺🇸

2010 Winter Olympics—Vancouver, B.C., Canada

  • Gold: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Silver: Team USA 🇺🇸
  • Bronze: Finland 🇫🇮

2014 Winter Olympics—Sochi, Russia

  • Gold: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Silver: Team USA 🇺🇸
  • Bronze: Switzerland 🇨🇭

2018 Winter Olympics—PyeongChang, South Korea

  • Gold: Team USA 🇺🇸
  • Silver: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Bronze: Finland 🇫🇮

2022 Winter Olympics—Beijing, China

  • Gold: Canada 🇨🇦
  • Silver: Team USA 🇺🇸
  • Bronze: Finland 🇫🇮

2026 Winter Olympics—Milan Cortina, Italy

  • Gold: TBD
  • Silver: TBD
  • Bronze: TBD

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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