Switzerland's women's hockey team has earned the bronze medal at the Milan Cortina Games, defeating Sweden 2-1 in overtime. The decisive goal was scored by Alina Müller, marking her second Olympic medal-clinching goal.
The match, held on Thursday, saw Sinja Leemann score for Switzerland, while Andrea Braendli made 32 saves. For Sweden, Mira Jungaker found the net, and Ebba Svensson Traff stopped 23 shots, including a penalty shot attempt by Ivana Wey in the second period.
Path to the Bronze Medal Game
Switzerland's tournament journey included an opening shootout win against Czechia (4-3). After a series of losses, the team achieved an upset in the quarterfinals by defeating Finland 1-0, with Braendli credited with 40 saves in that match. Sweden, conversely, won their group, Group B, with a notable goal difference of 18:2 and did not concede a goal in their quarter-final against the Czech Republic (2-0).
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Key Moments in the Bronze Medal Match
Overtime Winner: Alina Müller scored at 9:09 of overtime to secure the victory for Switzerland.
Equalizer: Sinja Leemann scored for Switzerland, tying the game after Sweden had taken the lead.
Penalty Shot Save: Swedish goalie Ebba Svensson Traff saved a penalty shot from Ivana Wey in the second period.
Late Third-Period Penalty: Switzerland had an opportunity on a power play late in the third period due to an interference penalty on Sweden's Laura Zimmerman.
Overtime Save: Svensson Traff also made a save on a Zimmerman shot early in overtime before the winning goal.
Player Performances and Team Statistics
| Team | Player | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | Alina Müller | Overtime winning goal |
| Switzerland | Sinja Leemann | Scored Switzerland's goal |
| Switzerland | Andrea Braendli | 32 saves |
| Switzerland | Ivana Wey | Penalty shot attempt (saved) |
| Sweden | Mira Jungaker | Scored Sweden's goal |
| Sweden | Ebba Svensson Traff | 23 saves, 1 penalty save |
| Sweden | Laura Zimmerman | Interference penalty, OT shot |
Before the bronze medal game, Switzerland had scored six goals in their previous six matches. Alina Müller was a significant contributor, scoring four of Switzerland's eight goals throughout the tournament and assisting on two others.
Analysis of Team Strengths
Switzerland's success in securing the bronze medal appears to be a result of key offensive contributions from Alina Müller and crucial defensive efforts, particularly from goaltender Andrea Braendli. The team demonstrated resilience, coming back from losses to achieve an upset victory in the quarterfinals and then winning a close bronze medal game in overtime. Sweden's strong performance in their group and quarter-final was a prelude to a tight contest against the Swiss.
Switzerland's victory hinged on overtime heroics and strong goaltending.
Alina Müller's consistent offensive impact was a notable factor in the team's success.
Conclusion
The bronze medal win for Switzerland's women's hockey team marks a significant achievement at the Milan Cortina Games. The overtime victory against Sweden, spearheaded by Alina Müller's goal, highlights the team's ability to perform under pressure. The performance of goaltender Andrea Braendli was also critical throughout the tournament, especially in their quarter-final upset.
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Sources:
CBC Sports: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/hockey/olympics-women-hockey-bronze-medal-switzerland-sweden-february-19-9.7096876 (Published: 44 minutes ago)
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story//id/47976873/switzerland-wins-olympic-women-hockey-bronze-muller-ot-goal (Published: 1 hour ago)
Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-sweden-womens-hockey-olympic-bronze-cf85aec375145aa20294037d1094cd56 (Published: 1 hour ago)
Olympics.com: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-switzerland-wins-womens-ice-hockey-bronze-overtime (Published: 13 hours ago)
Bluewin: https://www.bluewin.ch/en/sport/alina-mueller-shoots-the-swiss-ice-hockey-team-to-olympic-bronze-3105506.html (Published: 17 hours ago)
TSN: https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/video/2026/02/19/milano-cortina-2026-womens-hockey-bronze-medal-switzerland-2-sweden-1-ot/ (Published: 41 minutes ago)
