US women’s hockey team faces Switzerland in Olympic showdown, seeks 3-0 start

Team USA’s women’s hockey team battles Switzerland today seeking to stay perfect at Milano Cortina. The undefeated Americans are pursuing a remarkable 3-0 start after crushing Czechia (5-1) and Finland (5-0). Can they maintain their dominant scoring pace against Switzerland’s resilient squad?

Undefeated Americans Dominate Early Rounds

Team USA opened the 2026 Winter Olympics with overwhelming force, winning its first two preliminary games by a combined 10-1 margin. Captain Hilary Knight’s performance has been stellar, with the five-time Olympian tying the American record for career Olympic goals at 14 after scoring against Finland on Saturday. The team’s suffocating defense and relentless forward attack have left opponents struggling to keep pace.

In their opening victory over Czechia (5-1), the Americans established their tournament identity early. Hayley Scamurra netted two goals while Alex Carpenter, Joy Dunne, and Knight each scored. Against Finland on Saturday, USA’s dominance reached new heights with a 5-0 shutout. Megan Keller posted a goal and two assists, while Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, and Alex Carpenter scored their first Olympic goals.

Switzerland Seeking Turnaround After Canadian Loss

Switzerland’s path through the preliminary round has been considerably tougher. The Swiss opened with a 4-3 shootout victory against Czechia, creating early optimism. However, Saturday’s matchup with Canada told a different story, as the reigning Olympic gold medalists dominated the Swiss, claiming a 4-0 victory. Despite the lopsided final score, goaltender Saskia Maurer delivered a remarkable performance, stopping 51 shots and allowing just one goal through two periods.

Switzerland’s resilience offers a glimmer of hope entering Milan’s third preliminary game. The Swiss have demonstrated they can compete defensively and stay organized under pressure. Maurer’s performance against Canada earned praise from opposing star Natalie Spooner, who called the goaltender “unreal.” Now Switzerland aims to gain breathing room in group standings.

Tournament Preview and Key Storylines

Factor	USA	Switzerland
Record	2-0-0	1-1-0
Key Forward	Hilary Knight (Olympian #5)	Lara Stalder (veteran forward)
Recent Form	10 goals, 1 allowed	5 goals, 8 allowed
Goaltender	Gwyneth Philips (making first start)	Andrea Brandli (returning from norovirus)

Team USA’s momentum appears virtually unstoppable in the early rounds. Young breakout performers like Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy are cementing their place on the Olympic stage alongside veteran stars. The American depth chart demonstrates remarkable scoring threats at every forward line, making them the tournament’s scoring favorite. Wednesday’s Canada matchup looms large, offering a potential preview of medal-round intensity.

Switzerland faces a challenging afternoon against the outscoring machines in blue jerseys. However, Maurer’s heroic efforts and disciplined defensive structure suggest the Swiss won’t roll over. Every goal matters in group-stage seeding.

“Team USA has been dominant so far in Milan, outscoring opponents 10-1 over its first two games.”

— The Athletic, 2026 Winter Olympics Coverage

Historic American Dominance Against the Swiss

This marks the fourth Olympic meeting between the United States and Switzerland. Remarkably, Team USA has won all three previous matchups by a combined score of 23-0. In their most recent meeting at Beijing 2022, the Americans demolished the Swiss 8-0, with Hilary Knight, Kelly Pannek, and Jesse Compher each scoring twice. Switzerland has never scored against the United States at the Olympics.

The Swiss will need to break through multiple barriers today. First, Gwyneth Philips takes her first start of these Games and has allowed minimal scoring early in the tournament. Second, Team USA’s defensive structure remains nearly impenetrable. Until Switzerland can find the back of the net against American goalies, the odds favor another decisive victory for the red, white, and blue.

What Does This Mean for Team Canada Tomorrow?

Tomorrow brings the heavyweight matchup everyone has circled on the calendar: Team USA versus Team Canada. The two nations account for 15 of the 16 gold and silver medals in Olympic women’s ice hockey history. Today’s game against Switzerland will determine seeding advantages and provide critical evaluation of line combinations heading into that epic showdown. USA’s quest for gold starts now, and today’s victory would cement their role as tournament co-favorites alongside the reigning-champion Canadians. Will the undefeated Americans continue their relentless scoring barrage, or can Switzerland mount an upset?

Sources

• The Athletic – Live coverage and game updates from Milano Cortina 2026
• USA Hockey – Official Olympic schedule and preliminary round results
• Olympics.com – Historical records and career achievement tracking