A Night of Missed Chances
The United States women's national hockey team saw its hopes of a final dashed when it fell to New Zealand in a penalty shootout during the 2026 FIH Hockey Nations Cup semifinal. The match, played under bright lights, ended with New Zealand edging out the Americans after a tense series of spot‑kicks.
Ashley Hoffman broke the deadlock early, scoring her first goal of the tournament for the USWNT. New Zealand responded with four goals in the shootout, ultimately securing the victory. Despite outshooting the opposition with double the circle entries and eleven penalty corners, the Americans could not convert the extra chances.
Head Coach David Passmore reflected on the loss, noting that the young squad must learn from the experience and display character in the upcoming bronze‑medal match. "We have to show resilience," Passmore said, emphasizing the team's commitment to improve.
Looking Ahead to Bronze Medal Play
The USWNT will meet No. 13 Chile for the FIH Hockey Nations Cup bronze on June 21 at 12:00 a.m. ET. The game promises another high‑stakes encounter, with both teams eager to finish the tournament on a positive note. All matches in the competition are streamed on Watch.Hockey via pay‑per‑view, allowing fans worldwide to follow the action.