Sweden's women's ice hockey team lost the Olympic bronze medal match in Milano to Switzerland 1–2 after a dramatic overtime goal. Alina Müller decided the game with 51 seconds left in overtime. The disappointment was profound among the players, who described the feeling as an emptiness in the body.
In the bronze medal match at the Olympics in Milano, Sweden's Damkronorna led for four minutes, but Switzerland came back to win 2–1 in overtime. Star Alina Müller scored the decisive goal with 50.6 seconds remaining, according to some reports, or 51 seconds per others.
Mira Jungåker, one of Sweden's top defensemen, expressed her frustration: 'It is an emptiness in the whole body' after the loss. She burst into tears, and several teammates were red-eyed or visibly angry. Despite the positive play with speed and passion throughout the tournament, the medal drought continues since the silver in Turin 2006.
The team's development background includes a strike in August 2019, when 43 players boycotted the national team for 62 days to protest poor economic conditions and lack of support from the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. The protests led to improvements, such as better insurance coverage, compensation for lost work income, and collaboration between SHL and SDHL, where SHL clubs now have women's teams.
Despite missing bronze, players like Mira Jungåker are praised for her turbo-powered skating and Ebba Svensson Träff for her strong performances in goal. The comforting hugs after the match highlighted the team spirit, and experts see a brighter future for Damkronorna.
