Ice Hockey - Team United States

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Squared off against Canada in every Olympic gold medal match (except Torino 2006) since the introduction of women’s ice hockey at Nagano 1998, where they won the inaugural contest. The next 20 years brought three silvers and a bronze medal, before standing atop the podium once more in PyeongChang 2018.

The last two Olympic finals went into extra time. In Sochi 2014, Alex Carpenter extended the US lead two minutes into the third period, after Tara Watchorn (CAN) was called for tripping. Leading 2-0, Canada pulled their goaltender, allowing USA's Brianne Jenner to score with three minutes remaining. Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN) managed to grab an equaliser with only 55 seconds remaining. After penalties to Jocelyne Lamoureux (USA) and Hilary Knight (USA), Canada took advantage of their double powerplay and Poulin netted the winner eight minutes into overtime.

In PyeongChang 2018, a penalty to Sarah Nurse (CAN) allowed Hilary Knight (USA) to score the opening goal with 30 seconds remaining in the first period. Canada started the second period with two quick goals and led until the 54th minute when Monique Lamoureux-Morando (USA), grabbed an equaliser. After a quiet overtime period, the match went to a penalty shootout. Tied at 2-2, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson gave USA the lead. With Meghan Agosta (CAN) looking to equalise, US goaltender Maddie Rooney blocked the shot, giving the United States their first gold medal in 20 years.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The United States have contested the gold medal match all 20 times the tournament has been played, squaring off against Canada 19 times. Canada won the first eight, before the US won their first title in 2005, after a penalty shootout. Canada responded with a 5-1 win in 2007, but the US would win seven of the next eight final matches, including overtime wins in 2016 and 2017.

The US played Finland in the final of the 2019 World Championships in Espoo. With scores tied 1-1 halfway into overtime, Finland looked to have snatched victory when Petra Nieminen knocked a rebound into the goal. The officials reviewed the play for 10 minutes, eventually ruling that Jenni Hiirikoski (FIN) made incidental contact with goaltender Alex Rigsby (USA), negating the goal. However, Rigsby was called for tripping, giving Finland the first of their two overtime powerplays. Failing to capitalise, the United States won their fifth consecutive gold medal, winning the penalty shootout 2-1.

In the 2021 World Championships the USA-Canada gold medal match-up returned, with Canada securing their first title since 2012 in overtime. The United States took a 2-0 lead midway through the first period, with a double from Alexandra Carpenter (USA). Canada drew level with two second period goals, before Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN) broke the deadlock with 2:38 remaining in extra time.

QUALIFICATION
Qualified for Beijing 2022 after finishing first in qualification seeding, following the cancelled 2020 World Championships in Canada.

World Ranking: 1st (3260 pts)

OLYMPIC RECORD
24 wins, 1 overtime win, 1 overtime loss, 5 losses
vs. Canada (3 wins, 5 losses)
vs. Czech Republic (no games played)
vs. Denmark (Olympic debut)
vs. Finland (8 wins, 0 losses)
vs. Japan (1 win, 0 losses)
vs. People's Republic of China (3 wins, 0 losses)
vs. Russian Federation (2 wins, 0 losses) - including OAR
vs. Sweden (4 wins, 1 loss)
vs. Switzerland (2 wins, 0 losses)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse