2026 Olympic Women's Hockey Tournament Preview & Prediction
Updated July 9, 2026
The women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is one of the most anticipated competitions of the Games. With North American rivals squarely in the spotlight and several European teams making genuine progress, the rest of the world will be gunning for the USA and Canada. As the puck drops on February 5, teams from around the world will compete for Olympic gold, but only a few are realistically positioned to reach the podium. Here, I break down the tournament and make my 2026 Olympic women's hockey prediction.
Below are the current odds for teams to win gold in the women’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
One of the biggest storylines entering the 2026 Winter Games is the historical rivalry between the United States and Canada. Since women’s ice hockey was introduced to the Olympics in 1998, these two countries have dominated the event. They have won every gold medal between them, and this year is likely to be no different despite strong competition.
The United States enters this tournament at the top of the international power rankings after winning the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, with a roster brimming with skill and scoring ability and several PWHL stars contributing at elite levels. Their recent form has been strong, including a sweep of Canada in a late-season rivalry series, adding to their favorite status.
Canada, while slightly behind the United States in recent results, brings an experienced group led by veterans such as Marie-Philip Poulin. Their lineup has a championship pedigree from multiple past Olympics, and they remain a serious contender for gold. The Canada vs USA matchups will likely determine who claims top honors in Milan.
While the United States and Canada will garner most of the attention, European teams are pushing forward and threatening to disrupt the traditional hierarchy. Czechia has notably improved and aims for a landmark podium finish, led by dynamic young talent eager to make an impact on the Olympic stage. Meanwhile, Finland enters with a veteran team seeking to continue their track record of finishing among medalists at major tournaments. Switzerland has aspirations of returning to the medal round after a strong performance in recent World Championships. Sweden, Japan, Germany, Italy, and France round out a competitive field that, while unlikely to dethrone the North American giants, can spring surprises in individual games.
Below are the primary teams expected to realistically compete for medals, based on current rankings, recent international form, and my own expectations:
Pick: United States to win gold ATS PRO
Confidence: 4 out of 5
The United States stands as the most logical selection for gold medal success in women’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Their status as reigning world champions is a sign of their competitive edge against all foes, with a deep roster consisting of multiple lines capable of scoring and shutting down opponents. Recent series victories over Canada signify that the Americans are not merely relying on reputation but demonstrating current form superiority over their top competitors.
Canada is certainly not to be counted out, but their recent head-to-head results suggest some vulnerability compared to the USA’s recent play. While a Canadian triumph is possible, especially given their history of performing at Olympic events, the Americans’ skill set and momentum give them a marginal advantage and I'll take the favorites to win the gold in Italy.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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