Swedish coach suggests the US might not want to face his team in women's hockey semifinals
US players celebrate at the end of a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between USA and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
MILAN — Sweden women’s hockey coach Ulf Lundberg has plenty of confidence in the challenge ahead.
In outlining how fearless his young and talented group has performed in going 5-0 to reach the semifinals at the Milan Cortina Games, Lundberg made a bold suggestion in preparing to face the top-ranked and tournament-favored Americans on Monday.
“(The Americans) are just human beings,” Lundberg told The Associated Press immediately following a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Czechia on Friday. “It’s a fantastic challenge. And I don’t really think that the U.S. team wants to meet us right now.”
While anything is possible in a one-game knockout, the Swedes beating the U.S. would represent a significant upset.
As for Team USA’s response to Lundberg’s comment, coach John Wroblewski said he’s eager and ready to play whoever is next.
“We’re ready to play against anybody, and we’re excited to play anybody,” he told The AP. “I think that the hunger and the gamesmanship of which they’ve shown to persevere through the relegation pool is admirable. And of course we respect that.”
Defending Olympic champion Canada will play Switzerland in the other semifinal, with the winners advancing to the gold medal game on Thursday.
United States head coach John Wroblewski yells to his team during the third period of a women's ice hockey quarterfinal match against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster
The tournament’s semifinal matchups are the same as the 2014 Sochi Games, when Canada went on to defeat Switzerland and then claim gold on Marie-Philip Poulin’s overtime goal in a 3-2 win over the U.S.
What’s different this time is the dominance the United States has shown in a tournament beginning to resemble more of a coronation for the two-time gold medal winners.
The Americans have won five games by a combined margin of 26-1, including a 5-0 victory over rival Canada. And they haven’t allowed a goal since Barbora Jurickova scored on a breakaway 8:37 into second period in a 5-1 win over Czechia in both teams’ tournament opener on Feb. 5.
The Americans have shown no fear against anyone.
Team Sweden players jump from the bench to celebrate after they beat Czechia 2-0 in their women's ice hockey quarterfinal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster
“We have one goal in mind and that’s to bring home a gold medal,” defender Megan Keller said. “So whoever’s in our way, we’re going to focus on ourselves.”
Four years after Canada dominated in winning gold at Beijing, the U.S. has raised women’s hockey to another level with a multi-faceted attack that overwhelms opponents in waves and features a swift, playmaking group of defenders driving the offense.
The U.S. has four players in the tournament’s top 10 in points, with three of them defenders, including Caroline Harvey, who leads all players with nine points (two goals, seven assists).
Wroblewski’s biggest fear is overconfidence.
“There needs to be a lot of respect for the treachery and how fragile it is between success and not. You can’t take anything for granted,” he said. “It’s really good to have confidence because confidence is earned. But we’ve got to make sure that these one-game sets, they’re volatile. ... We’re nowhere near the end.”
The Swedes are on the rise under Lundberg, and feature a young, brash, talented core that includes seven players still competing at the U.S. college ranks. Much like the U.S., Sweden won five games by a combined margin of 20-2, but had a comparatively easier schedule in the Group B bracket.
The team now has a chance to earn its third Olympic medal and first since winning silver in 2006, when Sweden upset the U.S. in the semifinals.
Lundberg’s confidence reflects that of his players, who’ve been instilled with the vision of being honey badgers.
“The honey badger is chasing lions and elephants and everyone away. And they are scared of the honey badger because he or she has a totally (fearless) mentality,” Lundberg said. “And so we need to have that (fearless) mentality, because in Sweden we’re a little laid back and humble. But in the game of hockey, you have to take the lead.”
Canada versus Switzerland
Canada has never missed advancing to the gold medal game, and welcomed back Marie-Philip Poulin in a 5-1 win over Germany on Saturday after the captain missed two-plus games with a right knee injury.
Switzerland reached the semifinals for the third time in team history, with Alina Muller scoring and goalie Andrea Braendli stopping 40 shots in a 1-0 win over Finland.
The 34-year-old Poulin's return provided a much-needed boost to an older Canada team — evident in its only tournament loss. Minus Poulin, the Canadians couldn't keep up with the Americans in the nation's most-lopsided loss and first shutout in Olympic play.
Signs of sloppiness remained in a sluggish opening period against Germany.
“Those are just habits that creep into your game sometimes based on the opponent. And we just got to get away from it,” coach Troy Ryan said. “The other part is we’ve got to manage our aggressiveness. So if we’re aggressive, great. But you can’t have one, two, three people being aggressive on plays.”
The Swiss are in contention for their second medal after Muller, at 16, scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win over Sweden in the 2014 bronze medal game. Though Switzerland finished last in Group A at 1-3, it gained confidence with a tournament-opening 4-3 shootout win over Czechia.
Canada is 5-0 against Switzerland in Olympic play, including a 10-3 win in the semis at Beijing in 2022.
