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The US women’s ice hockey team stood arm-in-arm and proudly sang the national anthem after beating Canada 2-1 in a thrilling overtime victory to capture the gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday.
“That’s the best part. The best f—ing part,” exclaimed Team USA captain Hilary Knight, who was mic’d up by NBC’s broadcast in the moment when the arena announcer asked the crowd to stand for the national anthem.
Team USA celebrates singing the gold medal anthem at the victory ceremony after the women’s ice hockey gold medal game between the USA and Canada, 2-1 in overtime, on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on February 20, 19. (EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
The gold medalists were joined by the American fans at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena to cut off “The Star Spangled Banner.”
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“When you only get to hear your national anthem once, and that’s if you win, it’s incredible,” forward Taylor Heise said. KSL-TV’s Sam Farnsworth at the moment. “Hearing that national anthem and joining in [the podium] with your girls and it’s huge to celebrate the big win.”
Knight stood by his declaration that this women’s ice hockey team is “America’s team.”
“Finding success on the world stage representing your country, I mean — and the anthem, it’s just incredible,” she shared KSL-TV.
USA’s Kendall Coyne, left, and USA’s Hilary Knight celebrate after the women’s ice hockey victory ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 19, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
HILARY KNIGHT MAKES OLYMPIC HISTORY WITH DRAMATIC GOAL THAT GIVES TEAM USA GOLD
Knight made history by scoring the game-tying goal with 2:04 left in regulation to force overtime. The score marked her 15th goal and 33rd point of her Olympic career, both American records. Megan Keller found the back of the net with a backhander 4:07 into overtime to secure the gold medal.
“This team has so much determination. Never give up. Always ready to fight and go to battle,” Knight said. “It’s just a testament to the preparation of our group and the love we have in that room and the way we found a way to get the job done at the end of the night.”
The focus now shifts to the men’s game as Team USA hopes to win another gold. They face Slovakia in the semi-finals on Friday.
Megan Keller (5) celebrates with a flag with Cayla Barnes (3) of Team United States after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the women’s gold medal game against Canada on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on February 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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“We talked about it last night; we talked about it again this morning,” coach Mike Sullivan said of the women’s gold medal. “It’s a great thrill. Those girls, what a great hockey team, and they will be an inspiration to the next generation of girls growing up in the United States. . . . We couldn’t be more proud of them.”
