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Team USA women’s ice hockey will have a shot at a gold medal after defeating Sweden in the semifinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Monday.
American goalkeeper Aerin Frankel had another shutout as Team USA defeated the Swedes 5-0. Frankel hasn’t allowed a goal since the team’s 5-1 win in their opener against the Czech Republic. Since then, Team USA has been firing on all cylinders.
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Team USA celebrates after their victory over Sweden in a women’s ice hockey semifinal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cayla Barnes put the USA on the board in the first period. She scored on assists from Kelly Pannek and Lee Stecklein. The game opened up in the second period as the USA kept pounding the net and got the puck behind the opponent’s netminder.
Tyler Heise, Abbey Murphy, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Hayley Scamurra each netted a goal in the second period. The USA didn’t score in the third, but didn’t have to.
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USA’s Hayley Scamurra, center, celebrates with Tessa Janecke (22) and Britta Curl (17) after Samurra scored against Sweden in the second period of a women’s ice hockey semifinal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Frankel made 23 saves in the win.
The USA went through group play allowing just one goal and has outscored their opponents in the knockout stages 11-0. The Americans will face the winner of Canada and Switzerland for the gold medal.
Team USA already defeated both teams in group play, 5-0 in each game.
USA’s Taylor Heise (27) joins the celebration after Abbey Murphy, third from left, scores a goal against Sweden in the second period of a women’s ice hockey semifinal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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The Americans will try to avenge a disappointing finish at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where they lost to Canada in the gold medal game. The US women’s hockey team has won two gold medals since their first Olympic appearance in 1998. The wins came in 1998 and 2018.
