The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina concluded on Feb. 22, capping what was a dominant showcase from the women of Team USA. Female athletes took home eight of the 12 gold medals won by the United States, the most in the country’s history, and 17 of the 33 medals overall. With the golden wins coming in alpine skiing (downhill and slalom), bobsleigh, figure skating (solo and team), freestyle skiing (moguls and mixed aerials) and ice hockey. The most notable wins came from Alysa Liu in Figure Skating and the incredible tournament by the USA Women’s Hockey team.
This type of performance from the women of Team USA comes as no surprise, as this marks the third consecutive Winter Games in which they have accounted for the majority of the nation’s medals, while their streak at the Summer Olympics is at four. Across all nations, these Games featured the highest female participation in Winter Olympics history, with 47 percent of athletes being women.
Following the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6, the women of Team USA went to work immediately, capturing their first gold medal on Feb. 8 in the alpine skiing downhill, setting the tone for the rest of the Olympics. As the United States’ medal count continued to rise, the spotlight shifted to the U.S. Women’s Hockey team.
The U.S. Women’s Hockey team went on the most dominant Olympic hockey tournament run in history. During the seven games played, they netted 33 goals while only allowing two. After allowing a goal to Czechia midway through the opening game, Team USA would not surrender another goal for nearly six full games, a streak that lasted until the final three minutes of the goal medal game versus Canada. Because of Caroline Harvey, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and Megan Keller’s golden goal, the United States earned a 2-1 victory in the final to reclaim Olympic gold.
The women’s success continued on the ice into figure skating, as the breakout star Alysa Liu took center stage. Liu took the internet by storm over the course of the Games, gaining five million+ followers on Instagram because of her talent and calm yet competitive mindset.
Seen with a smile on her face the entire competition, the 20-year old connected with a young audience by using her platform to stress the importance of mental health and personal happiness. On Feb. 19, Liu landed seven triples in her free skate to secure the gold medal, screaming, “that’s what I’m f****** talking about!” as she skated off the ice into the arms of her coaches.
These performances led the United States of America to a very successful Winter Olympic campaign in Milano Cortina, with the women of Team USA once again delivering and showcasing their talents on the global stage. Their accomplishments during these Games reflect the continued growth of women’s sports and the hope for equality in these competitive areas.
