The 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in České Budějovice ended in dramatic fashion, with the U.S. claiming gold in an overtime win against Canada. The tournament also set a new world attendance record.
In a hard-fought thriller, Tessa Janecke scored the overtime winner as the U.S. defeated arch-rival Canada 4–3 to claim the gold medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship in České Budějovice. It’s the first American Women’s Worlds title since 2023 and ends Canada’s reign.
The Czech Republic finished fourth after a loss to Finland. The Czechs had already been 3–0 up midway through the bronze medal game when Finland roared back to equalise with just 93 seconds remaining. Then came another heartbreaker for the Czech team, as their dreams of a home medal were crushed by Jenniina Nylund in the fifth minute of overtime, when she forced the winner in from close range.
New Attendance World Record in České Budějovice
České Budějovice now holds a world record. The 5,369 fans who attended Sunday’s gold medal game brought the total attendance for the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship to 122,331 – surpassing the previous record of 119,231 set in Winnipeg, Canada, in 2007.
This record-breaking figure was driven by a string of sell-out games featuring the Czech team, with players from various nations praising the electric atmosphere at Arena České Budějovice. There were also impressive turnouts for other fixtures, particularly the heavyweight clashes involving Canada and the USA.
IIHF Director General Matti Nurminen expressed his delight at the enthusiasm shown by fans from Czechia – and beyond. “I would like to thank the Czech fans,” he said. “We know you are a true hockey country, but you’ve proved it again. To my understanding, all the Czech games were sold out. But there were also other games with more than 5,000 spectators. We’re breaking the world record at the Women’s World Championship just one year after setting a world record at the Men’s Worlds in Czechia – this truly is a hockey country.”
IIHF Women’s Worlds 2025
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