At the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Japan's women's ice hockey team, Smile Japan, secured a 3-2 victory over France in their opening match. France, making their Olympic debut, put up a strong fight but fell to late goals from Japan. This win gives Japan a strong start in Group B.
On February 6, 2026, in Milan, Italy, at the Winter Olympics, Japan's women's ice hockey team defeated France 3-2 in their opening match. Coached by Yuji Iizuka, Smile Japan overcame a resilient French side that was making its Olympic debut.
The game was a tight defensive battle. Rui Ukita put Japan ahead late in the second period, but Lore Baudrit equalized for France just over a minute later. In the third period, Makoto Ito broke the 1-1 tie with a crucial goal, followed quickly by Suzuka Maeda's tally to make it 3-1. France pulled one back late through Gabrielle De Serres, but it wasn't enough.
France entered the match under pressure after a 4-1 loss to host Italy on Thursday. In Group B, the top three teams advance to the quarterfinals. This victory marks a solid start for Japan, contrasting with their dominant win over France in last year's final qualifying tournament, where the French were less prepared.
Both goalkeepers shone in a low-scoring affair, highlighting the intensity of the play.