Cortina: The 2026 Milan Winter Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament, to be held in Cortina, got off to a strong start, with leading nations showing their strength in the opening matches. Defending champion Canada opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Switzerland, while the United States solidified its reputation as the favorite to win Group A with a 5-0 win over Finland.

Both games featured outstanding performances, with U.S. forward Hilary Knight setting a U.S. record for most points in a Winter Olympics, and Canadian forwards relentlessly pressuring the Swiss defence. In Group B, Germany defeated Japan 5-2, and Sweden defeated Italy 6-1, both teams remaining undefeated and advancing to the quarterfinals. The top three teams from each group advance, and there is intense competition as the tournament progresses.