Bilka and Edwards score twice as USA open women's worlds with 7-0 win

The United States began their women's ice hockey world championship campaign with a 7-0 victory over Switzerland in Esbjerg, Denmark, on Friday, November 6. The result put the defending champions at the top of Group A after the opening day's games, with three points and seven goals without reply.

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According to the IIHF's match report, Switzerland kept the game close through the first period, which ended with the Americans leading 1-0 through Hannah Bilka. Casey O'Brien extended the advantage early in the second period before Laila Edwards scored on the power play. That goal came just 15 seconds after a Swiss penalty, taking the lead to three.

The Americans scored four more times in the final period. Bilka added her second before Kirsten Simms and Hilary Knight also found the net, with Edwards completing the scoring. The IIHF reported a 15-3 American advantage in shots during the second period, when the United States turned a narrow lead into a much firmer grip on the game.

The win begins another title defence for a team that arrived holding both the world and Olympic crowns. In its tournament background report, the IIHF recalled Tessa Janecke's overtime winner against Canada in the 2025 world final in Czechia. Megan Keller then scored the overtime winner against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, after Knight had equalised late in regulation.

Elsewhere in Group A, Czechia defeated Austria 4-1, leaving both opening-day winners on three points. Germany had yet to play, with its first game scheduled against Austria on November 7. In Group B, the IIHF's results showed Canada beating Sweden 5-1 and Finland defeating host Denmark 4-1, while Japan had yet to begin its tournament.

The official schedule lists Germany as the Americans' next opponent on November 8, followed by Austria on November 9 and Czechia on November 11. Switzerland's next game is against Czechia on November 8. The competition continues in Esbjerg and Herning, with quarterfinals scheduled for November 13, semifinals on November 15 and the medal games on November 16.