USA Cruise Past Sweden 5–0 to Reach Final

February 17, 2026

USA Cruise Past Sweden to Reach Women’s Ice Hockey Final

USA's forward #27 Taylor Heise (L) controls the puck during the women's play-off semi-final ice hockey match between USA and Sweden at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, on February 16, 2026. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / POOL / AFP)

The United States booked their place in the final of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics after a commanding 5–0 victory over Sweden’s women’s ice hockey team on Monday.

There was no hint of a repeat of the shock at the 2006 Turin Games, when Sweden eliminated the Americans at the same stage.

Cayla Barnes opened the scoring after just five minutes, with Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, Kendall Coyne and Hayley Scamurra all adding goals as the United States women’s ice hockey team dominated throughout.

Sweden head coach Ulf Lundberg admitted his side had little chance, remarking that the only way they might have won would have been with “a plexiglass in front of our net” at the Santagiulia Arena.

Reigning champions Canada women’s ice hockey team will face Switzerland women’s ice hockey team in the other semi-final later on Monday, with the winner set to meet the Americans in Thursday’s final.

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