The U.S. women’s national hockey team looks to win back-to-back gold medals at the 2026 Women’s World Championship in Denmark this week as the countdown to the 2030 Winter Olympics in France begins.
American women's hockey captain Hilary Knight may have played in her last Olympic Gamesearlier this year, but her international career is far from over. Knight is set to appear in her 16th Women's World Championship, where she's won a record 10 gold medals while setting all-time records for goals (67), assists (53) and points (120).
The U.S. and Canada have faced off against each other in every Women's World Championships gold-medal game since the first tournament was held in 1990. That's 24 consecutive world championship finals.
The longtime rivals
could extend that streak to 25 in Denmark at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, which will begin on Friday, Nov. 6, and run through Monday, Nov. 16.
Fans got a preview of the potential final matchup when USA and Canada squared off in two exhibition matches ahead of the tournament last month. Canada's new-look roster won the first game 5-3 in Ontario on Oct. 28 to snap the Americans' eight-game win streak dating back to April 2025, which included overtime gold-medal wins over Canada at the 2025 Women's World Championship in Czechia and 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
Canada did so without Marie-Philip Poulin, who'll miss the tournament while recovering from ACL and meniscus surgery, marking the first time Poulin won't be on the Canadian roster at a major tournament since 2008.
However, the Americans bounced back with a dominant 4-0 win over the Canadians in the second tune-up game in Michigan on Oct. 30. Kirsten Simms, Tessa Janecke, Hannah Bilka and Joy Dunne all scored in the rout, while Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards each added two assists each.
"We were just shaking the rust off," said Knight, who finished with one goal across two pre-tournament games. "We had a slow start and just trying to feel the game out a little bit. And so I think that's what makes this win better because it really did feel like a team win. Everyone was kind of going on all cylinders and that's what you want, especially going into a major international tournament when it's best on best."
USA, the defending champions, will look to win back-to-back World titles for the first time since 2019.
In addition to USA and Canada, the field also includes host country Denmark, Germany, Austria, Finland, Japan, Czechia, Sweden and Switzerland, which won the Olympic bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Here's what you need to know about the tournament, as the new Olympic cycle begins:
How to watch U.S. women's hockey in World Championship?
The U.S. women's hockey team is set to compete in the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark from Nov. 6-16. All USA matchups will be broadcast on NHL Network and available to stream on Fubo.
- Channel: NHL Network
- Stream: Fubo
U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team schedule
U.S. women’s hockey roster
The national team features 20 players from the 2026 U.S. Olympic team that won the nation's first gold medal since 2018. The squad also includes three newcomers making their World Championship debut.
“The team we’ve selected is incredibly talented and brings a level of skill that will be just as much fun to watch as it will be to coach,” said head coach John Wroblewski, who will lead the team through the 2030 Winter Olympics after signing an extension. “We’re looking forward to getting to Denmark and competing for our ultimate goal, a gold medal.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA women's hockey goes for back-to-back gold medals at Women's World Championship
