2026 will be Hilary Knight's final Olympic Games. Her fifth tournament will close one chapter on the future Hall of Famer's storied career, with one final chance for gold as Team USA's captain.
When Hilary Knight leaves hockey, she'll forever be remembered as one of the best to ever play the game. That time isn't up for the former Boston Fleet captain, and current captain of the PWHL's Seattle Torrent at the professional level, but the 2026 Olympics will be Knight's final Olympic Games representing the United States.
As Knight told ESPN, she's going out on her own terms.
"Everyone has an expiration date and you don't know what that date is," Knight said. "To have an opportunity to control that? I can kind of just appreciate things. People don't have to keep asking, 'Is this your last one?' I've already thought through the conversations, I've already sat with it. I'm really at peace."
2026 will be Knight's fifth Olympics, something few athletes can achieve. It represents 20 years of remaining at the top of her sport for one of only two nations to ever win gold at the Olympic Games in women's ice hockey.
Knight's first games were in Vancouver in 2010. She recorded one goal and eight points in five games at that tournament helping USA earn silver.
2014 was a similar outcome for Knight and Team USA as she scored six points in five games to take silver. Knight was named a tournament All-Star in 2014.
It wasn't until 2018 in PyeongChang that Knight won her first Olympic gold medal with USA. That year Knight scored the opening goal in the gold medal game, an eventual 3-2 shootout win over Canada.
In 2022, Knight had her best individual performance scoring six goals and 10 points in seven games, but USA fell to Canada for Knight's third career silver medal.
2026 will have a unique quality for Knight who will for the first time captain Team USA at the Olympics in what will be her final tournament.
With USA dominating Canada -- winning six straight games against their rival, including the gold medal game at the 2025 World Championship -- the opportunity is there for Knight to end her Olympic career with another gold medal around her neck.
For the future Hall of Famer, it's one chapter ending on a storied career that will be watched by fans, teammates, and opponents who will soak in their final opportunity to watch Knight on the world's biggest stage for women's hockey.