Knight ’07 in Shining Armor Uplifts Team USA

When her team needed her most, she delivered.

Deep into the third period of the Women's Hockey Final at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Team USA found itself in a position that it hadn't been throughout the entire tournament — playing catch-up. Having given up its first goal in exactly two weeks, Team USA found itself down 1-0 to Team Canada with just over two minutes left in regulation, but the team in red, white, and blue refused to give in. Attacking and looking for an equalizer, Laila Edwards took her best shot at the goal, and just when it looked as if it might not reach its destination, a deflection from Hilary Knight '07 put the puck in the net and tied the game.

Knight's late-game heroics weren't just clutch; they were historic. Scoring the game-tying goal, she became the all-time leading Olympic goal scorer in U.S. women's hockey history and the all-time Olympic points leader in U.S. women's hockey history. She also adds to a growing lineage of Wild Boars putting their best skate forward at the Winter Olympic Games in women's hockey, which includes Angela Ruggiero ’98 (USA), Kim Insalaco ’99 (USA), Julie Chu ’01 (USA), Josephine Pucci ’09 (USA), Phoebe Staenz ’13 (Switzerland), and Samantha Kolowratova '15 (Czech Republic).

"I had no idea," the five-time Olympian told NBC. "I just love scoring, and that pure elation of finding the back of the net. It’s a little-kid moment. When you score, it’s pure excitement. Those are legendary players, and just to be in the same sentence as them is super special."

However, as one five-time NBA Champion once said, the job wasn't finished. Heading into overtime, Team USA kept its momentum, pushing the pace and going toe-to-toe with its rivals from up north. Then, it happened. Three-time Olympian Megan Keller scored the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime, earning Team USA its third gold medal and first since 2018.

Keller and company will continue their celebration as the Winter Olympic Games come to a close. Knight, who recently proposed to American speedskater Brittany Bowe, will have the honor of carrying the flag for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony as the 2026 Winter Olympic Games conclude on Sunday, February 22, 2026.