Finland wins bronze in the women's hockey World Cup. This is clear after a penalty shootout in the medal match against the Czech Republic, where the Finnish women's lions thus drew the longest straw. The third prize match ended 3-2 after penalties.

Sunday evening featured the bronze medal match in the Women's Hockey World Cup 2024 between Finland and the Czech Republic. Before the match, it was even between the teams purely in terms of odds, where last year's third-placed Czech Republic won the match in the group stage with 0-4. But a medal match is a medal match. The first period was goalless but in the second period the goal drought was broken when Michelle Karvinen made it 1-0 for Finland after just 20 seconds. However, the Czech Republic equalized at 1-1 five minutes later, but Finland went into the third period with a 2-1 lead after a goal by Viivi Vainikka. In the third period, the Czech Republic then equalized early through Denisa Krizova to make it 2-2, which lasted the regular match time. The bronze match in the WC thus went to extra time.

The extra time was played three on three for ten minutes, an extra time that was entertaining. Sanni Ahola was possibly the saving grace of the tournament when she prevented the Czechs from a winning goal and it was fast and furious with some hot chances. Finland was the best during regular time, but the Czech Republic created the most chances in extra time. But there were no goals. Extra time went to a penalty shoot-out where the match would be decided.

In the penalty shootout, Finland drew the longest straw and won. The Finnish women's lions thus finish third in the 2024 Women's Hockey World Cup in Utica (USA) and take a new World Cup medal, their 15th in history. Previously, Finland had one World Cup silver and 13 World Cup bronzes, now they have 14 bronze medals in history.

Tonight (start 23:00) the WC final is played between Canada and the USA.

Updated April 14, 2024