Team USA Women’s World Inline Hockey Champions

RE WATCH FULL GAME

Ladies and gents, it’s official—Team USA Women’s Inline Hockey just slapped the gold medal on their chest with a gritty 2-1 victory over Spain at the World Roller Games World Championships. But let me tell you, this game was more than just a battle on the rink; it was USA versus the world. Or, at least, that’s how it felt with the refs calling a game softer than a marshmallow. Seriously, international reffing is a joke. Even the announcer couldn’t stop talking about Spain, like we didn’t already know they were the reigning champs. 

Both squads rolled into the final 5-0, undefeated and ready to go. USA crushed Pool A like it was nothing, mowing down Canada, France, and Mexico to lock in the top seed. Spain? Same story in Pool B—Argentina, Italy, and Colombia didn’t stand a chance. These two teams were built for the spotlight, and boy did they deliver.

Team USA? Deep as the Mariana Trench. They had six girls—Era, Kraft, Stoddard, Veharanta, Bryant, and Huynh—lighting the lamp with four or more goals each. And let’s not forget about the goalie duo, Jolee Savoy and Frankie Sanchez. These girls were brick walls with skates, making highlight-reel saves like it was nothing.

Spain wasn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat either. They had a stacked roster, full of young talent, and were led by two absolute studs: Ana Sierra (12 points) and Olivia Monjas (7 points). And don’t even get me started on their goalies, Lopez and Sierra. They combined for four shutouts in six games, only letting four pucks slip by them the entire tourney. Basically, it was a clash of the titans.

This championship game? Instant classic. We’re talking one of the best women’s games not just of the year, but in World Championship history. I thought the PAMA PRO Women’s championship game was wild this summer, but this one had it all—and with World Champ bragging rights on the line, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

Now, you knew this game was going to be spicy from the jump. During warm-ups, a Spanish player casually stretched at center ice, eyeballing Team USA’s warm-up like she was scouting for a heist. Sara Bier wasn’t having it—she skated right up, parked herself in front of the Spanish chick, and started stretching her own legs. That’s a beauty move if I’ve ever seen one. The stage was set.

Spain came out swinging, controlling the early pace and trying to get under USA’s skin. And wouldn’t you know it, the refs handed Spain an early power play on a soft call because, of course, they did. USA Would kill it off but Spain puck movement was a thing of beauty. Ana Sierra wasted no time, putting Spain up 1-0 with eight minutes left in the first.

But Team USA wasn’t rattled. They hung tough, and with two minutes left in the half, Kyla and Allie teamed up on a 2-on-1 break. Kyla served up a filthy dish to Era, who buried it top-shelf to tie the game 1-1. The momentum swung like a wrecking ball, and USA hit the locker room feeling good.

The second half was a grind. Team USA started shorthanded, and if you thought the refs would keep calling a soft game. Spain kept trying to drag USA into their, frustrating style and wait for their chances but the Americans weren’t biting. They clogged the lanes, shut down cross-ice passes, and let Jolee Savoy put on a clinic between the pipes.

Then, with nine minutes left, Laura Veharanta decided to go full beast mode. She one on one with a Spanish defender and sniped the eventual game-winner glove side. But the real chef’s kiss? Veharanta's celly through Spain’s bench—ice cold.

Of course, the refs had to make things interesting, slapping USA with a penalty with 1:48 left because, why not? But Jolee Savoy, the MVP of the game and probably the MVP of our hearts, wasn’t letting anything past her. She stood on her head, made save after save, and when the final buzzer rang, it was official: TEAM USA IS BACK ON TOP, BABY! WORLD CHAMPS!

The red, white, and blue just reminded everyone who runs this show. Let’s go!

SCORES AND RESULTS

TEAM USA ROSTER 2024

• Allison Era
• Ariane Yokoyama
• Brooke Bryant
• Chloe Sapra
• Daniella Dror
• Jennifer Friedman
• Kayla DeMint
• Kyla Kraft
• Laura Veharanta
• Makenzie Williams
• Sarah Bier
• Tanner Gates
• Tia Stoddard
• Victoria Huynh
• Jolee Savoy (G)
• Frankie Sanchez (G)