USA Women's Curling Defeats Canada for First Time at Olympics

American team triumphs 9-8 over rival Canada in women's curling competition

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In a historic moment, the USA Women's Curling team defeated Canada 9-8 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, marking the first time the Americans have beaten their northern rivals at the Olympic Games. Tabitha Peterson's clutch performance in the 10th end, where she made a draw for two points to overcome Canadian skip Rachel Homan, was the difference in the tight contest.

Why it matters

Curling has gained a surprising following among American sports fans in recent years, and this victory over the traditional powerhouse Canadian team represents a major milestone for the up-and-coming U.S. women's curling program. The win also boosts the Americans' chances of medaling in the event after previously finishing no higher than fourth.

The details

The U.S. team, comprised of Tabitha Peterson, Tara Peterson, Cory Thiesse, and Taylor Anderson-Heid, overcame a late 8-7 deficit by scoring two points in the 10th end to secure the 9-8 victory. Canada had previously dominated the Americans at the Olympics, going 8-0 in their previous matchups dating back to the sport's debut in 1998.

  • The USA Women's Curling team defeated Canada 9-8 on February 13, 2026.
  • The Americans will next face Japan on February 14, 2026.

The players

Tabitha Peterson

A three-time Olympian competing in her third Games, Tabitha Peterson delivered the clutch performance that led the U.S. to victory over Canada.

Rachel Homan

The skip of the Canadian women's curling team, Homan was unable to hold off the late American comeback in the tight 9-8 loss.

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What they’re saying

“Defeating Canada at the Olympics has been a goal of ours for a long time. I'm so proud of the way our team fought back and made the plays when it mattered most.”

— Tabitha Peterson, USA Curler (The Slice Tennis)

What’s next

The USA Women's Curling team will look to build on their historic win over Canada as they continue Round Robin play, facing Japan on February 14, China on February 15, Italy on February 16, Denmark on February 17, and Great Britain on February 18, before closing out the preliminary round against Switzerland on February 19.

The takeaway

This victory over the dominant Canadian curling program marks a significant breakthrough for the up-and-coming U.S. women's team, showcasing their ability to compete with and defeat the sport's traditional powerhouses on the Olympic stage.