The 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina marks only the eighth time in history that women's hockey will compete at the Winter Olympics. Beginning in 1998, women's hockey was introduced as an official sport, and since then, USA has won two gold medals, and Canada five. In that span Sweden won a silver and bronze, Finland won four bronze medals, and Switzerland a single bronze.
While it's been a tournament dominated by two teams, it remains the epitome of women's hockey excellence, and the most important international competition in the sport.
Here's a look at 10 unforgettable moments in Olympic women's hockey history.
1. USA Believed In Miracles At The Founding 1998 Tournament
Leading up to the 1998 Olympics, Canada won gold at ever World Championship tournament that had been played. In 1998 however, the USA believed in miracles of their own beating Canada 7-4 in the round robin and again 3-1 in the gold medal game. It was an American team powered by captain Cammi Granato, and by stars of the era including Katie King, Karen Bye, Shelley Looney, and future Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero. Sarah Tueting backstopped USA in the gold medal game with Looney scoring the winner on the power play. Meanwhile a stacked Team Canada went home with silver, and Finland, powered by Hall of Fame inductee and tournament leading scorer Riikka Sallinen won bronze.
2. How Swede It Is: Sweden Upsets USA In 2006
Few saw it coming. USA and Canada again cruised through the round robin and everyone knew what was coming - another Canada versus USA final. That is, until it didn't. In the semi-finals, USA opened the scoring on a goal by Kristin King in the first. When Kelly Stephens scored early in the second, it looked like the floodgates were set to open for the Americans. From that moment on however, Swedish goaltender Kim Martin refused to allow another goal, and forward Maria Rooth took over single handedly. Rooth scored two second period goals to knot the score at 2-2, which is how it would stand through the third, and through overtime. With a trip to the gold medal game on the line, the teams lined up for a shootout. Kim Martin stopped all four shots she faced, while Pernilla Winberg and Maria Rooth scored for Sweden. The win was Sweden's only, ever, against USA at the Worlds or Olympics, and gave Sweden their only silver medal, as they fell to Canada in the gold medal game, in program history.
3. Captain Clutch Is Born
There is, and will only ever be, one Captain Clutch. That player is Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin. There is no player who can take over a game in such incredible moments as Poulin. That's just what she did in 2014 during the gold medal game against rival USA. Trailing 2-1 in less than a minute to go, Poulin scored the game tying goal with 55 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. Then, with two American players in the penalty box in overtime, Poulin scored the overtime winner 8:10 into extra time. The only caveat? Marie-Philip Poulin had yet to take over as captain of Team Canada, an honour which in 2014 belonged to Caroline Ouellette. Poulin took over the role at the 2015 World Championships and never looked back. You could probably argue that Poulin earned the name in 2010 while making her Olympic debut as she scored the only two goals of the gold medal game that year. She scored the gold medal game winner at the 2022 Olympics as well, and is the only player in Olympic history to score in four different gold medal games. It's impossible to discuss women's Olympic hockey history without Marie-Philip Poulin.
4. Flag Controversy Leads To Heated Gold Medal Game
Heading into the gold medal game against Team USA, word reached the Canadian roster that the American team had Canada's flag on their locker room floor. Needless to say, it was motivation for Canada who won gold with a 3-2 victory. When tournament MVP Hayley Wickenheiser said in an on air postgame interview, "I hear they had our flag on their dressing room floor, I wonder if they’d like us to sign it," it sparked controversy. What was already the most fierce rivalry in the sport, took on a new layer. Five days after Canada watched their flag raised to the rafters celebrating gold, the rumour was debunked by USA Hockey and Hockey Canada who released a joint statement claiming the rumour to be false.
5. Canada's Home Soil Gold Sparks An Unforgettable Party
Vancouver erupted in 2010 when Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice, and Shannan Szabados made 28 saves to shutout USA 2-0 for gold. It remains the only time in Olympic women's hockey history that the host team has won gold. The streets of Vancouver were filled with jubilant hockey fans, and in an unforgettable celebration, the ice at what is now Rogers Arena, was filled with celebrating Canadian players. Famously photos of Team Canada drinking beer and smoking cigars on the ice made headlines globally, capturing perfectly the unabashed joy the win brought to city and nation.