MILAN — The U.S. women’s hockey team is headed to the semifinals and are now two wins away from winning their first Olympic gold medal since 2018.
Veteran forward Kendall Coyne Schofield led the way with back-to-back goals in the USA’s 6-0 shutout of Italy Friday, Feb. 13 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Megan Keller, Laila Edwards, Britta Curl (short-handed) and Hannah Bilka also scored in the blowout victory, while Caroline Harvey recorded two assists to bring her to nine points on the tournament.
‘It’s a special group,’ said Coyne Schofield, a four-time Olympian. ‘I’ve been on a lot of teams throughout my career, but there is something special about this one. … Everyone is willing to do whatever it takes to be the best that they can be for this team, no matter what the role is and what or what’s asked of us, everyone’s dialed in and ready to go and ready to do whatever it is.’
U.S. head coach John Wroblewski said his team’s ‘offense is the best defense.’ Team USA held the Italians to six shots on goal the entire match, compared to its 51. They’ve recorded four consecutive shutouts with balanced scoring from the entire team and depth in the net with goalkeepers Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips.
Fifteen American s have scored at least one point through five games. The U.S. women lead all teams in scoring with 26 total goals and have only conceded one goal the entire tournament (a 5-1 win over Czechia Feb. 5).
Five-time Olympian Hilary Knight was held without a point and is one goal and one point away from setting the all-time U.S. Olympic records in those categories.
USA TODAY was in Milan and provided live updates from the USA vs. Italy quarterfinal. Here are the highlights:
Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock
Who’s next for USA in semifinals?
The semifinals are reseeded so the top-seeded USA won’t know its opponent until after Saturday’s games.
Final score: USA 6, Italy 0
The USA picked up its fourth consecutive shutout in a dominant performance against Italy. They scored five goals in the second period.
One minute left
6-0 USA.
USA power play
Nadia Mattivi is called for an illegal hit. Hilary Knight is out there on the power play, setting up near the front or side of the net as she looks for a U.S. record. Italy kills the penalty.
USA power play
Kristen Guerriero is called for cross-checking. Hilary Knight is out there. She’s stopped on a rebound as teammates try to set her up. Now Knight has gone to the bench.
Midway through third period
Still 6-0 USA.
Hilary Knight chance
Hilary Knight gets a nice shot off against Gabriella Durante, but the goalie makes the save and holds on. 6-0 USA.
Third period underway
USA is up 6-0 and 20 minutes away from heading to the semifinals.
End of second period: USA 6, Italy 0
The USA dominated in the first period but could get only one puck past Gabriella Durante. They solved that in the second period with five goals. Kendall Coyne Schofield led the way with her first two goals of the 2026 Olympics. Laila Edwards, Britta Curl-Salemme (short-handed) and Hannah Bilka also scored and the game is getting chippy. Shots are 39-4 through two periods as Italy went 25 minutes without a shot.
USA goal: Hannah Bilka scores
Hannah Bilka extended Team USA’s lead to 6-0 over the Italians. Caroline Harvey picked up her second assist of the game. She leads the 2026 Games in points (9) and assists (7). Taylor Heise also picked up an assist on the goal. USA 6, Italy 0
Italy power play
Things are starting to get chippy between the USA and Italy. American Joy Dunne and Italian Franziska Stocker exchanged some words with each other after a hard hit and the two began pushing each other as the play continued on. Cayla Barnes was called for interference at the 15:19 mark to end a chaotic sequence. The crowd booed when Barnes was called for the penalty. Italy hits the crossbar. The USA kills the penalty.
Italy shot drought ends
Italy gets its first shot in 25 minutes.
USA goal: Britta Curl-Salemme scores short-handed
The U.S. women’s hockey team was at a disadvantage after Rory Guilday was called for a penalty for boarding. That didn’t stop the Americans from scoring a shorthanded goal. Britta Curl-Salemme came around the back of the net to score Team USA’s fifth goal of the quarterfinal match. Joy Dunne earned the assist. USA 5, Italy 0
Italy power play
Rory Guilday is called for boarding. The USA scores short-handed to make it 5-0.
Alex Carpenter injury update
Alex Carpenter is back on the ice. She slammed her stick in frustration after being checked earlier in the period.
USA goal: Laila Edwards scores
Laila Edwards has her second goal in as many games. Edwards fired a long-range shot to give the Americans their third goal in the second period with over 15 minutes left to play. Megan Keller and Tessa Janecke were credited with assists. USA 4, Italy 0
USA goal: Kendall Coyne Schofield scores again
Kendall Coyne Schofield is having herself a night. She followed up her first goal of the 2026 Winter Olympics with her second goal a little more than three minutes later. Britta Curl and Grace Zumwinkle were credited with the assists. USA 3, Italy 0
USA goal: Kendall Coyne Schofield adds to lead
Kendall Coyne Schofield has her first goal of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Coyne Schofield snuck the puck past Italian goalkeeper Gabriella Durante to give Team USA a 2-0 lead at the 1:41 mark of the second period. Caroline Harvey and Haley Winn were credited with the assists. Harvey is up to six assists on the tournament. USA 2, Italy 0
Second period underway
1-0 USA.
Sweden vs. Czechia score: Sweden wins
In the earlier game, Sweden advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 win against Czechia. Hilda Svensson had a goal and an assist. Ebba Svensson Traff had a 29-save shutout.
End of first period: USA 1, Italy 0
Megan Keller scored the Americans lone goal at the 13:31 mark and goalkeeper Gwyneth Philips has kept the Italians off the board so far with a pair of saves. Italy’s Gabriella Durante has made some big saves. Team USA is outshooting the Italians 20-2.
Abbey Murphy robbed
Italy goalie Gabriella Durante reaches over to get her stick on an Abbey Murphy shot and deny her a goal. Durante also stopped Murphy twice at the end of and right after the USA power play.
Crowd getting into it
Simultaneous chants of ‘Italia’ and ‘USA’ going on.
USA goal: Megan Keller opens scoring for USA
Team USA is the first on the board after Megan Keller found the back of the net on a power play. Keller received the puck from Alex Carpenter and passed it to Laila Edwards, who immediately passed it back to an open Keller. Keller then shot a laser to give the Americans a 1-0 lead in the quarterfinal. USA 1, Italy 0
Italy power play
USA goalie Gwyneth Philips is called for delay of game for playing the puck in the restricted area. Italy power play ends when Laura Lobis is called for boarding. It will be 4-on-4.
Gwyneth Philips save
USA is dominating jn shots, but American goalie Gwyneth Philips comes up big on a breakaway by Justine Reyes.
USA power play
Nadia Mattivi is called for an illegal hit. USA gets three shots. Italy kills penalty.
Game underway
USA’s Gwyneth Philips vs. Italy’s Gabriella Durante in net.
What time is USA women’s hockey vs. Italy today?
- Date: Friday, Feb. 13
- Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena
Puck drop between the U.S. women’s hockey team and Switzerland is set for 3:10 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 13 from Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milan.
Where to watch US women’s hockey vs. Italy at Olympics
- TV channel: USA Network
- Streaming options: NBCOlympics.com | NBC Olympic App | Peacock
USA Network will broadcast Friday’s U.S. women’s hockey quarterfinal matchup against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Streaming options for the game include NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympic App (with a TV login).
You can also stream the game on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service.
USA women’s hockey roster for 2026 Winter Olympics
Here is the full U.S. women’s hockey roster for the Milano Cortina Olympics:
- Forwards: Kirsten Simms; Kelly Pannek; Grace Zumwinkle; Hayley Scamurra; Britta Curl-Salemme; Hilary Knight; Tessa Janecke; Hannah Bilka; Joy Dunne; Alex Carpenter; Kendall Coyne Schofield; Taylor Heise; Abbey Murphy.
- Goaltenders: Ava McNaughton; Aerin Frankel; Gwyneth Philips.
- Defenders: Lee Stecklein; Cayla Barnes; Caroline Harvey; Megan Keller; Rory Guilday; Haley Winn; Laila Edwards.
Gwyneth Philips starts in net for USA
Aerin Frankel has started three games for Team USA, but head coach John Wroblewski is turning to his backup. Gwyneth Philips is starting in the net for Team USA. Philips combined with McNaughton for a 5-0 shutout of Switzerland on Monday.
USA’s lines vs Italy
The USA will stick with the same top two lines as in the Canada game. Hannah Bilka was moved to the second line for that game and scored two goals.
Hilary Knight tied for two U.S. records
Hilary Knight enters the game tied for the U.S. Olympic record for career goals and points. Her 14 goals are tied with Natalie Darwitz and Katie King. Her 32 points are tied with Jenny Potter.
USA vs Italy women’s hockey predictions
- Mike Brehm: USA 7, Italy 0. ‘The Americans have five goals in each game in the tougher Group A. Italy is not as strong as those teams.’
- Jace Evans: USA 6, Italy 1. ‘The Americans have been rolling at these Olympics and they’ll keep it up here.’
- Cydney Henderson: USA 4, Italy 1. ‘Five appears to be the lucky number, but I’m going to go 4-1. Italy will feed off the home crowd and keep it close before the Americans open it up.’
- Helene St James: USA 7, Italy 1. ‘The American women are a dominant, seemingly unstoppable force. Host Italy’s biggest asset will be all the home country fans – they’ve provided a great atmosphere at every hockey venue. Should help boost the Italians as the U.S. women look poised to rout.’
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