MILAN — The U.S. women's hockey team's pursuit for its first Olympic gold medal since 2018 begins Thursday with a preliminary matchup against Czechia to open the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
The U.S. women won silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but are clear favorites to claim gold after winning a World Championship title in April and sweeping Canada in the 2025 Rivalry Series in December to close out the year. Meanwhile, Czechia is looking for its first podium finish at the Winter Games.
Veteran forward Hilary Knight is set to become the first U.S. hockey player, male or female, to appear in five Olympics. She was named team captain in what will mark her final Games and more history is on the line — Knight is three goals away from becoming the U.S. women's all-time leading Olympic scorer.
The American women are the top seed in Group A, which also features reigning Olympic champion Canada, 2022 Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Finland, Switzerland and Czechia. Group B features Japan, Sweden, Germany, Italy and France. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's matchup:
All times Eastern Time
