Team USA Women's Hockey Dominates Czechia 5-1 in Olympic Opener as Scamurra Scores Twice at Milano Cortina 2026

The United States women's hockey team began their quest for Olympic gold in emphatic fashion on Thursday, cruising to a 5-1 victory over Czechia in their opening game of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Forward Hailey Scamurra led the American offensive onslaught with two goals, while three teammates also found the back of the net in a dominant performance witnessed by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Americans controlled play from the opening faceoff, showcasing the speed, skill, and physicality that has made them perennial gold medal contenders. Scamurra's two-goal performance demonstrated her ability to capitalize on scoring chances and provided the offensive spark that Team USA needed to establish early momentum. The depth of the American roster was on full display as five different players contributed goals, highlighting the balanced attack that makes this team so difficult to defend against.

The victory was particularly satisfying given the high-profile attendees in the stands, as the American political dignitaries witnessed a masterclass in women's hockey. Team USA's defense was equally impressive, limiting Czechia's scoring opportunities and maintaining strong positional play throughout the contest. The Americans' goaltender made several key saves when called upon, ensuring that Czechia was unable to build any sustained momentum or threaten a comeback.

Thursday's action at the Olympics was notable not just for what happened on the ice, but also for what didn't. Canada's highly anticipated opening game against Finland was postponed after the Finnish team was struck by a norovirus outbreak, forcing tournament organizers to reschedule the preliminary-round matchup for February 12. The postponement represents an unusual disruption to the Olympic hockey schedule and adds uncertainty to Canada's preparation as they seek to defend their gold medal from previous Games.

The United States now sits atop their group standings with three points from the opening victory and will look to build on this strong start in their upcoming preliminary round games. The American team's combination of veteran leadership and young talent has created high expectations entering these Olympics, with many observers viewing them as co-favorites alongside Canada to claim gold. The depth of scoring displayed against Czechia will be crucial as the competition intensifies in the knockout rounds.

The women's hockey tournament continues over the next two weeks, with the preliminary round running through February 12 before the playoff stages determine medal positioning. Team USA's next challenge comes as they face another group opponent in their ongoing pursuit of Olympic glory, knowing that every game brings them one step closer to their ultimate goal of standing atop the podium when the tournament concludes on February 19.