Hilary Knight to Captain USA in Final Olympics 2026

After 20 years representing her country at the highest level, hockey superstar Hilary Knight is retiring from Olympic competition with one last shot at gold.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will mark Knight's fifth Games, a rare achievement that cements her legacy as one of women's hockey's greatest players. For the first time, she'll wear the captain's armband for Team USA on the sport's biggest stage.

Knight, who currently captains the PWHL's Seattle Torrent, told ESPN she's chosen to control her own ending. "Everyone has an expiration date and you don't know what that date is," she said. "To have an opportunity to control that? I can kind of just appreciate things."

Her Olympic journey began in Vancouver in 2010 with a silver medal. She collected another silver in 2014 before finally winning gold in 2018 at PyeongChang, where she scored the opening goal in a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over Canada.

In 2022, Knight posted her best individual performance with six goals and 10 points across seven games. Team USA fell to Canada for the gold, earning Knight her third silver medal.

Why This Inspires

Knight's decision to announce her final Olympics ahead of time shows the confidence and self-awareness of a champion who's spent two decades mastering her craft. She's choosing gratitude over uncertainty, allowing herself to fully savor every moment of her farewell tour.

The timing couldn't be better for Team USA. They've won six straight games against rival Canada, including the gold medal match at the 2025 World Championship. Knight will lead a dominant squad that could send her off with the golden ending she deserves.

Few athletes reach five Olympics in any sport, and fewer still get to choose how their story ends. Knight's teammates, opponents, and fans worldwide will witness history as one of hockey's all-time greats takes her final bow on the world stage.

For Knight, it's not goodbye to hockey, just to the Olympic dream that's defined her career.