Team USA Wins Olympic Gold Over Canada in Overtime Thriller

Revenge is best served in sudden-death overtime.

In a heart-stopping Olympic final, Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to capture its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey. The victory marks another dramatic chapter in one of the fiercest rivalries in international sports and delivers redemption after falling to Canada in the 2022 Winter Games.

Since women’s hockey debuted at the 1998 Olympics, only two nations have ever claimed gold: the United States and Canada. Thursday’s showdown marked the seventh time the two powerhouse programs met for Olympic gold. Canada had won five of the previous six matchups.

This time, America flipped the script.

After a scoreless first period, Canada struck first when Kristin O’Neill broke through, sending the Canadians into the third period with a 1-0 lead. For much of the game, it appeared Canada might once again edge out its southern rival.

Then came the moment that shifted everything.

With just two minutes left in regulation, Hilary Knight one of the most decorated players in U.S. hockey history buried the equalizer, sending the arena into a frenzy. The goal added yet another milestone to Knight’s Olympic résumé and forced a 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime.

Olympic overtime rules call for a 20-minute period played until the first goal. But this gold medal wouldn’t require the full twenty.

Just four minutes into overtime, Megan Keller maneuvered around Canadian defender Claire Thompson and slipped the puck past goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. Game over. Gold secured.

The U.S.-Canada rivalry in women’s hockey is unmatched in Olympic history. Between them, the two nations have claimed every gold medal since 1998. Entering this year’s final:

• Canada had five Olympic golds.

• Team USA had two.

• The last meeting in 2022 ended with Canada taking gold and America settling for silver.

That history made Thursday’s win especially sweet for the Americans.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Keller said afterward. “Canada gave us their best… but really proud of the way our group stuck together. We fought to get into OT and just happy to finish it off.”

For six players on this roster including Knight, who has indicated these will be her final Olympic Games this marks a second career gold medal. Knight now cements her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Team USA entered the final after dominating much of the Olympic tournament, outscoring opponents decisively and showcasing both offensive firepower and disciplined defense. But as expected, Canada proved to be a different beast.

The final featured relentless physical play, elite goaltending, and razor-thin margins exactly what fans have come to expect when these two teams meet for Olympic gold.

The victory not only avenges 2022 but also reinforces America’s place at the top of the sport heading into the next Olympic cycle.

The spotlight now shifts to the U.S. men’s hockey team, which faces Slovakia in the semifinals. A win would put the Americans one step away from their first Olympic gold medal since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

If fate delivers another U.S.-Canada showdown, the stakes would hardly need explanation.

For now, though, the night belongs to Team USA’s women who delivered under pressure, silenced a rival, and reminded the world that when it comes to Olympic hockey, America is never out of the fight.

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