Running the rule over the 2025 semi-finals

We’re down to the final four in Ceske Budejovice. Last year’s finalists USA and Canada are hot favourites to renew their rivalry in Sunday’s gold medal game, but it’s absolutely not a done deal. Host nation Czechia, backed by fantastic support, is ready to test the Americans after thrashing Switzerland 7-0 in the quarter final. And Finland, last year’s bronze medallist, has improved through the tournament and has a point to prove after a tough group-stage encounter with Canada. Read on for the lowdown on Saturday’s IIHF Women’s World Championship semi-finals.

Semi-final 1: USA vs Czechia. 15:00

Group stage result: USA 4 Czechia 0

Expect plenty of noise in the building for this one. The Czech fans have generated a fantastic atmosphere throughout this tournament and there’s a growing belief that Carla McLeod’s team can respond by delivering a medal. Thursday’s 7-0 thrashing of Switzerland in the quarterfinal is only adding to that optimism, while another sell-out crowd will bring the 2025 championship closer to the all-time attendance record.

And even though the Americans won the group-stage clash between the teams, Czechia came out with much credit from a battling display. With first-choice goalie Klara Peslarova set to play on Saturday in place of Michaela Hesova, who made her World Championship debut in the earlier encounter, there are hopes that Czechia will be even tougher to break down this time.

Kristyna Kaltounkova, the leading Czech scorer with 5 (2+3) points, believes that the fighting spirit from the group stage can ensure the hotly-favoured USA faces a real test here. “I feel like the way we battled with them in the first game was the way to go,” she said. “So, just go back to our roots. Go back to what we know how to do, not get too cocky, and handle it with grace and hard work. 

“I think we’re going to like where we end up with that.”

But Team USA has a point to prove after losing in last year’s final to Canada. Progress in Czechia has been flawless to date, with a 2-1 win over the Canadians ensuring top spot in Group A. 

And Lacey Eden, who scored in the 3-0 quarter-final win over Germany, is ready to subdue a fervent crowd as well as a promising Czech team.

“They have the home crowd, so it’s definitely going to be a gritty game,” she said. “It’s going to be a battle, but we’ll be ready for it. We can use the fan energy and kind of go off that.”

Cayla Barnes believes that the…