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Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Odds: Team USA’s Hilary Knight Ushering In New Era, Introducing Laila Edwards

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Odds: Team USA’s Hilary Knight Ushering In New Era, Introducing Laila Edwards

In an Olympic-sized going-out party for captain Hilary Knight, Team USA’s women’s ice hockey team seeks its first Gold Medal since 2018.

But will the ice rink be ready?

The 2025 PWHL points leader, Knight remains poised to compete in her fifth Winter Olympic Games this February in Milan, Italy. 

On the other side of the roster’s spectrum, Team USA rolled out the rookie red carpet for rising star Laila Edwards. The first-time Olympian helped lead the Wisconsin Badgers to an NCAA championship. Previously on the international stage, Edwards earned MVP honors at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship. She is the first Black woman to skate with the U.S. women’s national hockey team. 

“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards said, per ABC News. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics for sure.” 

Since women’s ice hockey was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1998, Team USA and Team Canada have captured every Gold Medal. BetOnline Sportsbook expects the scenario to play out again in 2026. Team Canada drew -105 sports-betting odds, while Team USA was tabbed at -120, according to ESPN.com. 

Knight collected six goals among 10 points during the 2022 Games. 

While Team USA is staging a roster changing of the guard, the favored Team Canada will again rely on Marie-Philip Poulin. The team captain posted Gold Medal-clinching goals three times in her career.  

The women’s ice hockey tournament begins Feb. 5 at Santagiulia Arena, which remains under construction. Team USA and Team Canada will skate in the same group as Czechia, Finland and Switzerland. The Gold Medal game is scheduled for Feb. 19.

Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Odds

Here is a look at the women’s Olympic ice hockey odds to win the Gold Medal during the upcoming Milan Games, according to ESPN.com:

Teams Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Odds
Team Canada -105
Team USA -120
Team Czechia 25-1
Team Finland 30-1
Team Sweden 65-1
Team Switzerland 100-1
Team Japan 200-1
Team Germany 200-1
Team Italy 500-1
Team France 500-1

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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