Team USA dethroned defending champions Canada at the IIHF Women’s World Championship 2025 in a thrilling overtime finale.
The stars and the stripes won 4–3 to capture the gold at the Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship on April 20 in České Budějovice, Czechia.
The greatest rivalry in women’s ice hockey stayed true to its reputation.
On the other hand, Finland defeated host nation Czechia in another exciting overtime game, also 4–3, to claim bronze.
USA’s Caroline Harvey gave the lead to Americans with a blistering opener, with Abbey Murphy adding another 29 seconds later.
But Canada was quick to respond. Just 55 seconds on, and they answered with thunder of their own with Danielle Serdachny pulling one back. Jennifer Gardiner followed up less than a minute later to draw the game level once more.
There was no dearth of drama in the third period. The USA surged ahead once more on the power play, only to have Canada follow suit. Another equaliser.
And with 5:47 remaining, it was deadlocked again. The game then headed to overtime.
The winning moment came from the USA’s Tessa Janecke, who rifled the puck home in sudden-death overtime. She found the net at 17:06, which was the longest game in Women’s Worlds history.
Also Read: IIHF Women’s World Championship 2025: Ice Hockey U.S. Team Full Squad
Team USA is now confident in the run up to the LA Olympics 2028 and what could be more better to clinch the gold on the home ice.
“Olympics are less than a year away, I think it’s sweeter just coming back from losing last year and being able to persevere through and have this group come out with a win,” the newly-crowned world champion Janecke told Olympics.com.
“So, obviously, leading up to the Olympics, it’s a good boost for us.”
