USA Women's Hockey Dominates Finland 5-0 to Continue Perfect Olympic Start

Team USA's women's hockey squad continued their dominant start to the 2026 Winter Olympics with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Finland on Saturday morning at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. The win extends the Americans' perfect record in Group A play and follows their commanding 5-1 opening victory over Czechia earlier in the tournament. The United States' offensive firepower and defensive discipline have made them the team to beat in Milano Cortina as they pursue Olympic gold.

Finland entered the contest under extraordinarily difficult circumstances after a norovirus outbreak swept through their team earlier in the week. The illness quarantined 14 members of the Finnish squad, raising serious doubts about whether enough players would be cleared to compete. While Finland ultimately fielded a team for Saturday's match, the disruption to their preparation and the physical toll on affected players clearly impacted their performance against the heavily favored Americans.

The United States wasted no time asserting their dominance, controlling possession from the opening faceoff and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Team USA's depth was on full display as multiple lines contributed to the offensive onslaught, showcasing the balanced attack that has become a hallmark of the American women's program. The shutout victory marked the team's second consecutive dominant performance and sent a clear message to the rest of the Olympic field about their championship aspirations.

Goaltending was another bright spot for Team USA, as their netminder recorded her first shutout of the tournament against Finland. The defensive unit played with discipline and structure, limiting Finland's opportunities and quickly transitioning to offense whenever they gained possession. The Americans' ability to control all three zones of the ice demonstrated the tactical preparation and execution that separates elite teams from the rest of the field at the Olympic level.

With two victories in as many games, the United States has positioned themselves as the clear favorite in Group A and one of the top contenders for the gold medal. Their next preliminary round matchup will be crucial for determining final group standings and potential quarterfinal opponents. The team's combination of veteran leadership and emerging talent has created a formidable roster capable of ending the Americans' gold medal drought that dates back to 1998.

As the women's hockey tournament progresses through the preliminary rounds, all eyes will be on Team USA's continued pursuit of Olympic glory. Traditional powerhouses Canada and the United States remain on a collision course for what many expect to be an epic gold medal showdown. For now, the Americans can take satisfaction in their perfect start while recognizing that the tournament's most challenging games still lie ahead in the knockout rounds.