Team USA’s Hilary Knight sets all-time U.S. hockey goal-scoring record

MILAN — U.S. hockey star Hilary Knight became the all-time leading scorer in U.S. women’s Olympic hockey history in the most spectacular way possible when she scored her 15th career goal late in the Milan Cortina Olympic gold medal game.

Knight, 36, deflected a shot to tie Canada, 1-1, two minutes from the end of regulation time.

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Knight broke the goalscoring record held by former U.S. players Natalie Darwitz and Katie King, whom she called “legendary players” on Feb. 7 when she tied their mark with a goal against Finland. She didn’t realize at the time that she had matched history, she said. Knight has reached 14 goals in 15 career Olympic games, while King has done so in 16 games. This was Knight’s 27th career Olympic appearance, extending his American record.

“No idea,” Knight said at the start of the tournament. “I love scoring and that pure joy of finding the back of the net. It’s a childhood moment. When you score, it’s pure excitement.”

With 33 points, Knight also broke the career points record at the Olympics she hosted with Jenny Potter.

A few days later, there was no doubt what had happened when she scored against Canada at the Santagiulia Hockey Arena. U.S. teammates rushed toward Knight after her goal, surrounding her while patting her blue helmet with their gloves.

Knight won Olympic silver medals with the United States in 2010, 2014 and 2022, as well as a gold medal in 2018, while facing Canada in every gold medal game.

In the 31 major tournaments played in the history of women’s hockey, including seven Olympic Games, these two countries have combined for all 31 victories, with the United States and Canada facing each other in six of the seven Olympic finals. Most recently, the United States won the world championships in 2023 and 2025, while Canada won in 2024.

Knight’s record-breaking performance came just days after she got engaged to her longtime girlfriend, Brittany Bowe, an American speed skater.