After Team USA dispatched Germany earlier today at the Women’s World Championships in Esbjerg, Denmark, a tilt tomorrow was officially set up with Austria, meaning that for the second time this year, a new contender will face off for the International Hockey Lineal Championship.

Nine months after Italy surprised the hockey world at the Milan Olympics by securing a spot against the Americans in the quarterfinal, this result was slightly less surprising, with the Lady Eagles almost certain to face off against the defending Olympic and World champions once Team USA defeated Canada in a pre-tournament exhibition on 30 October, guaranteeing they would bring the IHLC to Denmark.

Austria, who debuted as a national women’s team only 25 years ago, is playing in their first Top Division World Championship after clinching promotion at last year’s Division IA tournament, and is currently 0-2 in the tournament, following a 4-1 loss to Czechia and 2-0 loss to Germany. Goaltender Selma Luggin has been very busy keeping the team competitive, stopping 90 of 94 total shots faced in both games thus far, who will now face the biggest challenge of her career against the mighty United States.

Both Italy and Austria emerging as contenders in the same year repeats the same pattern as 2022, when Hungary and Czechia contended in consecutive games at that year’s Women’s Worlds (which also happened to be held in Denmark), and Austria becomes the nineteenth nation overall, and thirteenth European nation, to contend for the IHLC since the first international tournament in 1987.

While this historic meeting in Esbjerg will be the first such IHLC meeting for the Austrians, they certainly do not intend for this to be their last!

Photo Credit: 2026 Women’s World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC