Next chapter in bitter Canada-U.S. women's hockey rivalry begins Tuesday

One of the best rivalries in all of sport will take centre stage at Milano Cortina 2026 on Tuesday: Canada and the United States in women’s hockey.

It’s a battle that’s gone back and forth over nearly four decades, when the Canadians won the first world championship in 1990.

The Americans pushed back at the first Olympics to feature women’s hockey in 1998, winning a tournament where the Canadians were heavily favoured.

And so it’s gone since then, with the Americans capturing 11 world championships to Canada’s 13.

At the Olympics, the Canadians have stood atop the podium five times — most recently in 2022, when a dominant Canadian team broke records on the way to gold.

“It's why we play hockey, to get to play in these games,” Canadian forward Kristin O’Neill said before the Games began. “Just the opportunity to get to play them again this season is really honestly cool and exciting to me.”

This time around, many see the Canadians as underdogs to a younger American team that has tons of skill and speed. The Americans are ranked number one in the world by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Canadians are ranked second.

Things were close at last year’s world championship, where the Americans edged the Canadians 4-3 in overtime in the final.

It wasn't nearly as close at the Rivalry Series, where the Americans swept the Canadians. They were outscored 24-7 over those four games.

But the Olympics offer a fresh slate. Canadian forward Natalie Spooner, who has experienced more than a decade of blood, sweat and tears between these two teams, said the Canadians will be ready for the game against the U.S., which begins at 2:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday. You can watch all the action on CBC and CBC Gem.

"We could embrace that underdog mentality,” Spooner said a few days ago. “There's nothing bad about being an underdog and proving yourself. As players, we've had to prove ourselves over and over again.”

The biggest question mark for Canada heading into the game is the status of captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who left Monday's 5-1 win over Czechia with an injury.

The American team was rebuilt after a series of losses to the Canadians: at the Olympics in 2022, and three of four world championships between 2021 and 2024.

Over the last four years, they’ve brought along younger players like Laila Edwards, Tessa Janecke, and Haley Winn, a defender who’s logged more average time on ice than anyone else in the PWHL this season.