2026 Olympic Games: Players speak in post-game news conference after U.S. beats Canada for women's hockey gold

U.S. Wins atomic number 79 medal in women's hockey with 2-1 win o'er Canada in extra time

American Megan Keller's golden goal leaves Canada with the silver medal

Captains Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin embrace after final Olympic battle

Canada's Brad Jacobs will play for Olympic gold after defeating Norway in extra end

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It wasn’t the result the Canadians played for, but it also wasn’t the game a lot of people expected.

You’ve probably heard by now that the Canadians had lost seven straight games to the Americans dating back to last year’s world championship. The U.S. Shut out Canada 5-0 in their preliminary-round game, which wasn’t even close.

That’s not what we saw today from a Canadian team that played with much more desperation. As it so often does between these two teams, it came down to one goal.

That doesn’t provide much consolation for this Canadian team, including their captain, who is in tears. But they gave us a great game.

Liu, 20, becomes the first American female singles skater to win a medal since Sasha Cohen won silver in Turin in 2006. 

She had a final score of 226.79, beating Japan's Kaori Sakamoto, 25, by just under two points. 

Japan's Ami Nakai, 17, won the bronze medal.

That f-bomb laden flare up between Canada's Marc Kennedy and Sweden's Oskar Eriksson last week has become the curling confrontation that launched a hundred memes. 

Social media is chocked full of posts poking fun at Kennedy's flare-up with Eriksson, and the double-touching allegation that started it.

My favourites include one inserting Kennedy (and a curling stone) into the infamous "woman yelling at cat" meme. As a fan of the Bravo reality television universe, I also loved this Real Housewives of Curling one. 

Though Kennedy has since apologized for his behaviour, the double-touching allegation has dogged him through these Games. 

He received a "Bronx cheer" (a sound intended to resemble flatulence) from the crowd as he was introduced prior to Team Canada's semifinal against Norway today. It didn't seem to faze the Canadians, even though they needed an extra end to win.

Canada's Brad Jacobs will play for Olympic gold after defeating Norway in extra end

Canada's Brad Jacobs and his Calgary-based rink defeats Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell 5-4 in the men's curling semifinals at Milano Cortina 2026. Jacobs will face world No. 1 Bruace Mouat of Great Britain in the gold-medal game on Saturday.

In less depressing news: Brad Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert defeated Norway 5-4 in an extra end in their semifinal game.

They'll now play Great Britain, who defeated Switzerland today, for Olympic curling glory on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET

It's definitely a different tone for the Americans, who are clapping and cheering as they each receive a gold medal. The U.S. Also beat Canada for Olympic gold in 1998 and in 2018.

Canada's loss extends its losing streak against the U.S. To eight games.

The Canadian women's hockey team are receiving their silver medals now, and they're all still looking dejected. Poulin did offer a slight smile when she was given her medal and mascot plushie, though. 

Canadian fans are on their feet waving flags in the stands, cheering each time a medal goes around a player's neck.

The Swiss won bronze after defeating Sweden 2-1.

Captains Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin embrace after final Olympic battle

Three-time Olympic champion and Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin shook hands and hugged the now two-time Olympic champion and American captain Hilary Knight, after the United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime of the Olympic women's hockey final.

This likely marks the final handshake on Olympic ice between Poulin and Knight. The American has said this will be her last Winter Games. 

Canada's Blayre Turnbull said she's also proud of the way her team played.

"Tonight was our best game, which is exactly what you're hoping for at the Olympics. Obviously, the result is not at all what we wanted but I'm really proud of how we showed up and how we played."

In an interview after the game, game-winner Keller said she had respect for the "incredible" Canadian team.

It wasn’t the result the Canadians played for, but it also wasn’t the game a lot of people expected.

You’ve probably heard by now that the Canadians had lost seven straight games to the Americans dating back to last year’s world championship. The U.S. Shut out Canada 5-0 in their preliminary-round game, which wasn’t even close.

That’s not what we saw today from a Canadian team that played with much more desperation. As it so often does between these two teams, it came down to one goal.

That doesn’t provide much consolation for this Canadian team, including their captain, who is in tears. But they gave us a great game.

To say Canada is disappointed in this outcome would be a vast understatement. There are lots of tears being shed by the players on the ice, including Poulin.

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