Team USA captain Hilary Knight has etched her name in the annals of Olympic history by setting a new record for the most career goals scored in U.S. women’s hockey Olympic history. This remarkable achievement unfolded during the intense gold medal game against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where Knight scored a crucial goal in the final two minutes of the third period, allowing her team to tie the game and push it into overtime.
Knight’s remarkable journey to this milestone began just a week earlier when she tied the previous record, which was held by former players Natalie Darwitz and Katie King. Her historic moment was further celebrated nearly two weeks before the gold medal match when she assisted on Caroline Harvey’s opening goal against Canada. This assist brought her Olympic career point total to 32, tying her with Jenny Potter, who played across four Olympic Games from 1998 to 2010. Notably, this assist was confirmed through a video review, an event that added an intriguing twist to the unfolding drama on the ice.
In addition to her scoring and assisting prowess, Knight made history by becoming the first hockey player to compete in five Winter Olympics. Her five appearances span from the Vancouver Games in 2010 to the current Milan Cortina Games, with stops in Sochi (2014), Pyeongchang (2018), and Beijing (2022). Throughout her Olympic career, Knight has helped lead Team USA to glory, winning a gold medal in 2018 and securing silver medals in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
As the competition progresses, Knight’s contributions have been pivotal to her team’s success, even as they faced the formidable Canadians, who before the final match had experienced an unexpected loss to the U.S. in the preliminary round. With Canada entering the gold medal match at 5-1, their struggles throughout the tournament added an extra layer of intensity to this anticipated showdown.
Hilary Knight’s accomplishments not only spotlight her personal achievements but also inspire future generations of female athletes in hockey and beyond.