U.S. Women's Curling Team Beats Canada For First Time At Olympics

The American squad pulls off a surprise 9-8 victory over the powerhouse Canadian team.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The U.S. women's curling team defeated Canada 9-8 in a nail-biter at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This marked the first time the American women have beaten the Canadian team, which has medaled in every Winter Games since curling was added to the Olympics in 1998. The U.S. squad, which includes players from Minnesota, was surprised to learn of the historic nature of their victory over the world's top-ranked Canadian team.

Why it matters

The U.S. women's curling team's upset victory over the dominant Canadian squad is a significant milestone, as the American women have long struggled to compete with the powerhouse Canadian team. This win showcases the growing strength and competitiveness of the U.S. curling program on the global stage.

The details

In Friday's match, the U.S. team was able to capitalize on some uncharacteristic mistakes by the Canadian squad led by skip Rachel Homan. After the win, the American players celebrated by walking together down the ice and raising their fists in triumph. The U.S. team, which includes players with jobs outside of curling and young mothers, has several matches left in the round-robin before the semifinals next Friday.

  • The U.S. women's curling team defeated Canada on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The U.S. men's curling team previously beat Canada in the 2018 round-robin and semifinals at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The players

Taylor Anderson-Heide

A Minneapolis native on the U.S. women's curling team.

Tara Peterson

A member of the U.S. women's curling team from Shoreview, Minnesota.

Tabitha Peterson

The skip of the U.S. women's curling team and Tara's older sister.

Cory Thiesse

A member of the U.S. women's curling team who has already won a silver medal in the mixed doubles event.

Rachel Homan

The skip of the Canadian women's curling team, which has long been considered the best in the world.

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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 (Associated Press)

“It just always feels really good to beat (Canada skip) Rachel Homan. So any team to beat them, that's pretty impressive.”

— Tara Peterson (Associated Press)

“Apparently, we've never beat them in the Olympics before. That makes it just extra special.”

— Tabitha Peterson (Associated Press)

What’s next

The U.S. women's curling team has several matches left in the round-robin before the semifinals next Friday.

The takeaway

The U.S. women's curling team's historic victory over the dominant Canadian squad showcases the growing strength and competitiveness of the American curling program on the global stage, as they continue to challenge the world's best teams.