Team USA returns to the ice to take on host nation Italy in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon, when the US will look to further one of the most dominant runs in Olympic hockey history.
USA Hockey has outscored opponents 20-1 through their first four games — including Tuesday's historic 5-0 shutout win over defending champion Canada — clinching top seeding with a tournament-leading +19 goal differential.
University of Wisconsin defenseman Caroline Harvey leads the team with seven points, while University of Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy and Seattle Torrent forwards Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight — Team USA's captain — trail close behind with five points each.
Meanwhile, after netting a 2-2 round-robin record in Group B, No. 8-seed Italy will be skating in their first-ever Olympic women's hockey quarterfinals — doing so in the team's second-ever Winter Games appearance after also hosting in 2006.
Center Kristin Della Rovere leads Italy with four points (two goals and two assists), though 19-year-old Penn State University freshman Matilde Fantin tops the team's scoring with three goals so far — including two in Italy's 3-2 win over Japan on Monday.
Notably, Italy approaches its first-ever hockey clash with Team USA armed with several Canadian-born players, including Della Rovere and 2014 and 2018 Team Canada gold medalist Laura Fortino.
How to watch USA vs. Italy in their 2026 Winter Olympics quarterfinal
The puck drops on Team USA's quarterfinal clash with Italy at 3:10 PM ET on Friday, airing live on USA Network.
