Hilary Knight may have closed the book on her Olympic career with a gold medal, but she is not ready to leave professional hockey behind. The 37-year-old Team USA legend confirmed before the 2026 Winter Olympics that the Milan Games would be her final appearance on the international stage. However, Knight has now made it clear that retirement from the sport itself will come on a different timeline. As she prepares to help build the newly established PWHL Detroit, the hockey star says her decision will ultimately depend on whether the game continues to fulfill three important conditions.
Hilary Knight Explains What Will Determine Her Retirement
Speaking with PEOPLE, Knight opened up about how she is approaching the final chapter of her career. “My whole thing is that I have to continue to love what I do, I have to have an impact, and I have to do it in a way that is authentic to me,” she said.
As long as those three elements remain in place, Knight is leaving the door open. “If those three things are being fulfilled, who knows?” she continued. “I was able to put it all in line and sew the entire experience up, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Her remarks draw an important distinction between stepping away from Team USA and retiring from competitive hockey altogether. Knight’s Olympic run may be over, but her new PWHL contract ensures that she still has several professional seasons ahead if she chooses to complete the agreement.
Team USA Captain Reflects On ‘Special’ Final Olympics
Knight concluded her Olympic career in dramatic fashion when the United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime during the gold-medal game in Milan. The victory secured the third Olympic gold medal in the history of the U.S. women’s hockey program. Knight tied the game late in regulation before Megan Keller scored the championship-winning goal 4:07 into overtime.
For Knight, the experience carried additional emotional weight because friends and relatives had been unable to attend the previous Winter Games. “I get a little more misty-eyed because we didn’t have friends and family at the previous Games, and then we did,” Knight shared. “To share that experience again was so special, [because] with the absence of it before, you realize how much it means.”
The gold medal gave Knight a fitting conclusion to an international career that began with the U.S. women’s national program in 2006. She retired from Olympic competition with five medals, including two gold and three silver. Knight is also the all-time U.S. leader in Olympic goals and points.
Hockey Star Knew It Was ‘Time’ To Leave Team USA
Knight announced in 2025 that Milan would mark her fifth and final Olympic appearance. “It’s time,” she previously told USA Today. “I have grown up in this program, and it’s just given me so much. I’m at peace.”
Rather than being forced out by an injury or a roster decision, Knight valued the opportunity to choose her own ending. “I just have this feeling that it’s time,” she continued. “I can go out when I’d like to be done. That is such a privilege that only a handful of competitors get.”
Winning gold in her final Olympic game allowed Knight to finish that portion of her career on her terms. However, her departure from Team USA did not diminish her desire to compete or contribute to the continued growth of women’s professional hockey.
Hilary Knight Joins PWHL Detroit
Knight will continue her career with PWHL Detroit during the expansion team’s inaugural 2026-2027 season. Detroit acquired her from PWHL Las Vegas in June while she was already under contract for the upcoming campaign.
Knight then signed a two-year extension that will keep her with the organization through the 2028-2029 season. The agreement gives her the opportunity to help establish the culture of a new franchise while continuing to compete at the highest level of the women’s game.
Knight previously played for PWHL Boston and the Seattle Torrent. Her career has also included time in the National Women’s Hockey League and Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
Knight Says The Game Is Faster Than Ever
Knight previously told The Blast that remaining effective over such a lengthy career has required her to evolve alongside the sport. “The game is as fast as it’s ever been now,” she said.
Despite her accomplishments and experience, Knight explained that her priority remains “trying to always be at my best whenever I hop on the ice.” That goal has required constant adjustment as younger players enter the professional ranks with increasingly advanced skills. “It’s changed a lot,” Knight admitted. “There’s more skill than there’s ever been before, and it’s really refreshing and encouraging to see.”
Looking back at her career, Knight said persistence has mattered as much as medals, records or championship moments. “Honestly, standing up more times than I got knocked down. It’s as simple as that,” she told People.
Knight noted that women athletes are often forced to overcome barriers that their male counterparts do not experience. “There are so many things we go through as women athletes that are difficult, just by design, and because of where women’s sports are right now,” she explained. “We’re trying to reduce and eliminate barriers and create more spaces for us, with more equitable support.”
Knight may no longer be chasing another Olympic appearance, but her contract with Detroit helps the expansion franchise establish itself while continuing to push women’s hockey forward.
The Hilary Knight Sets The Record Straight On Retirement After Final Olympics first appeared on The Blast