US Women's Curling Team Beats Canada for First Time at Olympics

The victory over the world's top-ranked team was an unexpected first for the American squad.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The U.S. women's curling team defeated Canada 9-8 in a nail-biting match on Friday, marking the first time the American squad has beaten the world's top-ranked Canadian team at the Olympic Games.

Why it matters

Curling is a sport dominated by Canada, which has won gold medals in women's curling at the last three Olympic Games. The U.S. team's victory over their northern rivals is a significant upset and milestone achievement for American curling.

The details

The U.S. team, led by Minneapolis native Taylor Anderson-Heide, played a strong game to edge out the favored Canadian squad. Anderson-Heide acknowledged the significance of the win, saying "If that's true, I think we just played a really good game. They're No. 1 in the world."

  • The match took place on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Taylor Anderson-Heide

A Minneapolis native and member of the U.S. women's curling team.

Canadian Curling Team

The world's top-ranked women's curling team, which has won gold at the last three Olympic Games.

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What they’re saying

“If that's true, I think we just played a really good game. They're No. 1 in the world.”

— Taylor Anderson-Heide, U.S. Women's Curling Team Member (AP)

The takeaway

The U.S. women's curling team's historic victory over the dominant Canadian squad marks a significant milestone for American curling and demonstrates the growing competitiveness of the sport in the United States.