The Olympics have officially kicked off for the U.S. women and they've already established their dominance.
Team USA announced its arrival on the Olympic stage in emphatic fashion Thursday night, overwhelming Czechia 5–1 in its opening game of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
Making their debut at the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026, the top-ranked Americans controlled the contest from start to finish, suffocating No. 4 Czechia with relentless puck pressure and a commanding 42–14 edge in shots on goal. With the victory, the United States improved to a perfect 8–0 all-time in opening games at the Olympic women’s hockey tournament.
The Americans struck first late in the opening period on the power play. At 15:55, Laila Edwards delivered a centering pass from the left wing to Megan Keller at the blue line. Keller’s heavy shot was deftly redirected by Alex Carpenter, slipping past Czech goalkeeper Klara Peslarova to open the scoring.
Team USA doubled its lead early in the second period when Joy Dunne converted from in tight. Tessa Janecke threaded a pass into the crease, and Dunne lifted the puck over Peslarova’s right shoulder at 23:13 to make it 2–0. The pressure continued less than 90 seconds later, as Janecke set up Hayley Scamurra, who slid the puck through the five-hole for a 3–0 advantage just under five minutes into the period.
Czechia briefly halted the momentum midway through the second. Natalie Mlynkova picked off a U.S. pass and sprung Barbora Jurickova, fresh out of the penalty box, on a break through the middle of the ice. Jurickova beat a surprised Aerin Frankel at 28:37 to cut the deficit to 3–1.
The response was swift. U.S. captain Hilary Knight restored the three-goal cushion late in the period, breaking free down the right side and snapping a shot over Peslarova’s glove shoulder to send the Americans into the second intermission ahead 4–1.
Team USA sealed the result early in the third. At 44:22, Kelly Pannek recovered a loose puck in the Czech defensive zone and fed Scamurra, who blasted a slap shot into the net to complete the scoring.
Scamurra led the way with two goals, while Carpenter contributed a goal and an assist and Janecke added two helpers as part of a balanced American attack.
The United States will return to action Saturday, February 7, facing world No. 3 Finland at 4:40 p.m. local time in Group A play. The matchup will mark Finland’s first game of the tournament.
