The Historic Gold Medal Game in Women’s Hockey
The U.S. and Canadian women’s hockey teams faced off in what turned out to be an unforgettable gold medal game in Milan.
This match wasn’t just thrilling; it was noted as the most-watched game in women’s hockey history, according to an announcement from NBC on Friday.
Team USA secured a 2-1 victory in overtime, attracting an average of 5.3 million viewers on USA Network and Peacock. Team USA held a lead of 1-0 until the closing minutes of the third period, when Hilary Knight managed to tie the game just over two minutes before regulation ended.
Interestingly, during a 15-minute window from 3:45 PM to 4 PM ET on Wednesday, 7.7 million viewers tuned in to see Megan Keller score the decisive goal in overtime.
Details on Canadian viewership ratings are still pending.
Prior to this, the record for the most-watched women’s hockey game was held by the 2010 Vancouver Olympic final, where Canada defeated the U.S. 2-0, drawing an average audience of 7.5 million.
According to NBC, the women’s gold medal match, along with Alisa Liu’s gold medal performance in women’s free skate, contributed to the most-watched weekday broadcast of the Winter Olympics since February 17, 2024.
Across NBC, Peacock, NBCU digital platforms, and USA Network during the 2-5 PM ET “Milan Prime” and the 8-11 PM ET “Milan Primetime” slots, the average viewership reached 26.7 million.
The U.S. women’s hockey team truly captured the attention of the country with their outstanding performance in Milan.
2026 Winter Olympics
Reflecting on the previous tournament, where the U.S. faced a loss to Canada in the final, the women’s team leaders decided to revamp their lineup. In Milan, they opted for a blend of youthful talent alongside seasoned veterans like the 36-year-old Knight.
This strategy certainly paid off. It marked the first time the team has won the Winter Games since the 1998 Nagano Olympics without allowing a single goal. Team USA truly excelled, outscoring their opponents 33-2 and achieving an Olympic record for the longest consecutive shutout, lasting 352 minutes and 17 seconds.
Looking ahead, NBC maintains the U.S. media rights for the Olympics through 2036. In the coming years, they will cover the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (2028), the French Alps (2030), Brisbane (2032), Utah (2034), and a yet-to-be-determined location for the 2036 Summer Olympics.
