Sweden Falls Short of Bronze, Switzerland Prevails in Olympic Women’s Hockey Semifinal
Milan, Italy – Sweden’s quest for a medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics came to a heartbreaking end on Thursday, as the Swedish women’s hockey team lost 2-1 to Switzerland in the bronze medal game. The defeat marked a disappointing conclusion to a tournament where Sweden had hoped to secure their first Olympic medal since 2006.
A Disappointing End to a Promising Tournament
The loss was particularly tough for the Swedish team, who had been aiming for a medal for over a decade. “it was a massive disappointment. This was something we had been waiting for for so many years and we felt we had the chance to win a medal for Sweden,” said Hanna Olsson following the game.
The game mirrored a similar outcome from the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where Switzerland also dashed Sweden’s bronze medal hopes. Alina Müller once again proved to be Sweden’s nemesis, scoring the decisive goal with just 50 seconds remaining in the game.
Game Recap: A Tight Contest
The game remained scoreless until the second period. Sweden took the lead midway through the period with a goal from Mira Jungåker, assisted by Hilda Svensson. The goal was set up by strong play from Hanna Olsson and Thea Johansson, creating space for Jungåker to shoot.
However, Switzerland quickly responded, tying the game 1-1 after a Swedish turnover in their own zone. Sinja Leemann scored the equalizer for Switzerland.
Despite outshooting Switzerland, Sweden was unable to regain the lead. After a scoreless 60 minutes, the game went into overtime. Switzerland ultimately secured the victory with a goal in overtime, mirroring the Tre Kronor men’s team’s recent “sudden death” loss.
Veteran Disappointment and a Captain’s Farewell
The loss was especially hard for veteran players like Lisa Johansson, who had been waiting 15 years for a chance to compete for a medal. “I said it after we won the quarter-finals, that I have been waiting for 15 years to play for medals. I was very hungry,” she said.
The game also marked the final international appearance for Swedish team captain Ulf Lundberg.
Sweden’s Olympic Journey
Sweden entered the quarterfinals as the sixth seed after a strong showing in the preliminary round, winning Group B with a 4-0 record. They upset Czechia 2-0 in the quarterfinals, with Hanna Olsson scoring a goal and Ebba Traff Svensson making 29 saves. This victory secured their place in the semifinal round for the first time in 12 years.
Despite the disappointment of not securing a medal, Sweden’s performance at the 2026 Olympics represents a step forward for the program.
Source: Olympics.com – Hanna Olsson Profile
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