Team USA  women’s ice hockey reclaimed the top of the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, defeating Canada 2-1 in a sudden-death overtime final. he victory secured the first gold medal for the American women since 2018 and also established a permanent milestone in the sport’s record books. Laila Edwards, who entered the 2026 Games as the first Black woman to ever suit up for the U.S. Olympic hockey team is now the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the program’s history.

The championship game was a defensive battle that remained undecided until the final moments. Canada held a 1-0 lead late into the third period, maintaining the advantage for more than 40 minutes of play. However, with just 2:04 remaining in regulation and the U.S. goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, the Americans found the equalizer.

Edwards was positioned at the blue line and launched a shot toward the net that was redirected by U.S. captain Hilary Knight. The goal tied the game at 1-1, forcing the contest into a 3-on-3 overtime period. At the 4:07 mark of the extra session, Megan Keller scored the game-winning goal to secure the 2-1 victory.

For Edwards, the gold medal concludes a tournament defined by multiple historical achievements. During the preliminary round, she played a key role in a 5-0 victory over Canada, which marked the largest margin of victory for the U.S. over their rivals in Olympic history. In that contest, Edwards became the first Black woman to score an Olympic goal for Team USA. The game also represented the first time the Canadian women’s team had been shut out in Olympic competition.

Edwards was supported in her historic run by a wide network of family and peers, whotraveled to Italy with the assistance of community fundraising and public support from professional athletes, including Travis Kelce and Larry Nance Jr.