At the 2025 IIHF Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship, Team USA won the gold medal after a close 4-3 overtime win against Canada, with Tessa Janecke scoring the decisive goal. The final, held in České Budějovice, Czech Republic, marked the longest game in the history of the women’s world championship, and will be remembered as one of the sport’s most riveting showdowns.
Janecke’s goal her third of the tournament came with just under three minutes left in overtime, sealing the win for a U.S. squad that remained undefeated throughout the competition. Canada entered Sunday’s championship game eyeing a fourth world title in five years, but it was the U.S. who came out on top. The match was tightly contested from start to finish, with no goals scored for nearly half the game.
Momentum shifted quickly in the second period. Caroline Harvey and Abbey Murphy found the net within 30 seconds, giving the Americans a 2-0 lead. Canada responded just as fast, levelling the score 2-2 with goals from Danielle Serdachny and Jennifer Gardiner. All four goals came in a frantic two-and-a-half-minute window.
In the final period, Taylor Heise put Team USA ahead once more, only for Sarah Fillier to equalize and force overtime. Then, with 2:54 left in the extra frame, Heise delivered a precision assist to Janecke, who netted the game-winner redeeming last year’s overtime loss to Canada in Utica, New York.
Following the win, U.S. head coach John Wroblewski praised the team’s unity and effort.“Games between these two teams are always classics and tonight was no different,” Wroblewski said. “We had players up and down the lineup step up for us. It was a team effort I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Goaltender Gwyneth Philips, instrumental throughout the tournament, summed up her emotions simply: “Shock and awe. I’m ecstatic.”
The gold medal game capped off a flawless run for Team USA. They had already beaten Canada during the group stage, followed by decisive wins over Germany in the quarterfinals and Czech Republic in the semifinals. Earlier on the same day, Finland secured the bronze medal after edging host Czech Republic 4-3 in overtime.
The 2025 edition of the tournament also set a new attendance record, drawing 122,331 fans surpassing the previous high of 119,231 set during the 2007 championship in Winnipeg, Canada. From start to finish, the tournament highlighted the growing excitement and international reach of women’s ice hockey, with increasing global viewership and sell-out crowds backing the sport’s rapid rise.
With passionate rivalries, unforgettable moments, and historic milestones, the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship delivered a showcase of elite competition and team pride on the global stage.