US women's curling has eyes on the prize, with Team USA surviving a four-team race for the final two Olympic semifinal spots by defeating Switzerland in a 7-6 thriller on Thursday.
Kicking off the matchup tied for third on a 5-3 round-robin record with Canada and South Korea — with defending champion Great Britain's semifinal hopes trailing just behind on a 4-4 tally — the USA's most direct path to this weekend's Olympic medal rounds required a win over the already-qualified Swiss squad.
Led by newly crowned mixed doubles silver medalist Cory Thiesse, the US entered Thursday's win-and-in game coming off a stinging 8-7 loss to Great Britain — a contest that would have clinched their semis spot had the USA claimed victory.
"That one hurt a little more," captain Tabitha Peterson said postgame. "I think maybe I just attacked wrong on my second-to-last shot, and then I just didn't make my last one either. That's unfortunate, but they made a fantastic shot, so not much you could do about that."
Peterson flipped the script on Thursday, however, coming in clutch after Switzerland forced an extra frame with a stunning 10th-end three-stone tally to tie the US 6-6.
The 36-year-old skipper then broke the deadlock with her final shot to secure both the win and the USA women's second-ever trip to the Olympic semifinals — the team's first medal round berth in 24 years.
The Stateside quartet will now take aim at a first-ever podium finish alongside Canada, who secured the final spot in the knockouts by defeating South Korea 10-7 on Thursday, Switzerland, and the top-seeded three-time champion Sweden.
How to watch US women's curling in the 2026 Olympic semifinals
At the same time that Canada faces Sweden — arguably the toughest team in the field — Team USA will look to hand Switzerland a second straight loss when the pair meet again less than 24 hours after Thursday's result.
Both semifinals begin at 8:05 AM ET on Friday, airing live on Peacock and USA Network.
The US women's curling team made history on Friday, beating Canada 9-8.
The round-robin nail-biter also made history, marking the first time Team USA has ever defeated Canada in Olympic women's curling. Meanwhile, the neighboring countries have met at every Winter Games since the sport's 1998 Olympic premiere.
The US capitalized on several weak shots from Canada's top-ranked Team Homan. After the final stone, Team USA walked together down the ice with fists raised. The moment caught even the winners off guard.
"If that's true," said Minneapolis native Taylor Anderson-Heide. "I think we just played a really good game. They're No. 1 in the world."
Tara Peterson put it more simply: "It just always feels really good to beat Rachel Homan," she said. "Any team to beat them — that's pretty impressive."
The US women's curling squad is comprised of everyday athletes. Tara Peterson is a dentist, while her older sister and team skip, Tabitha Peterson, works as a pharmacist. Cory Thiesse, who already won silver in this year's mixed doubles tournament, serves as a lab technician.
Three of the four also have young children at home: Tara's son Eddie was born in September 2024, while Tabitha had daughter Noelle just months later.
The victory moves Team USA to 2-1 in round-robin play, with a win over Korea and a loss to Sweden rounding out their record so far.
How to watch Team USA in the Olympic women's curling tournament
The US next faces Japan in Saturday's Round Robin Session 5 - Sheet B, taking the ice at 1:05 PM ET, live on Peacock.
Italian curling star Stefania Constantini delivered a clutch performance on Monday, securing a 7-6 victory over Team USA in curling's final round-robin match.
The win advanced the defending Olympic champions to the mixed doubles semifinals.
Born and raised in Cortina, Constantini partnered with Amos Mosaner to defend their 2022 gold medal in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. The duo competed at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, the same venue where Constantini developed her skills.
The match turned in the fifth end, when Constantini executed a sharp double-takeout shot. She angled her final stone wide and hit another rock, sending it crashing into two US stones in the center. All US stones subsequently drifted out of the target, as Italy scored four crucial points to take a 6-2 lead.
Team USA then fought back, scoring two in the sixth end. They stole two more in the seventh after Constantini's draw shot floated past the button. The score was tied at 6-6 heading into the final end.
Constantini held her nerve with the last stone, delivering one final takeout on the hammer to secure the victory. The 26-year-old from Pieve di Cadore pumped her fist as the crowd erupted.
Constantini and Mosaner won all nine matches in Beijing, capturing Italy's first-ever Olympic curling gold medal.
Italy finished this year's round-robin play on a 5-3 record, advancing to the Winter Olympic semifinals as one of the top four teams. After topping the standings at 8-1, Great Britain now takes on Sweden in the competition's other semifinal.
How to watch Italian curler Stefania Constantini at the Winter Olympics
Constantini and Mosaner will face Team USA once again in today's curling semifinal, taking the ice today at 12:05 PM ET live on Peacock.
Curling will get its moment on the international stage at the 2022 Winter Olympics, featuring three events (men’s curling, women’s curling and mixed doubles curing) in Beijing.
In the team event, four players will compete per match, with ten teams overall participating in the Olympic tournament. After initial round-robin play, the four best squads will advance to the semifinals and the medal matches.
The women’s curling event, set to begin on Feb. 9, features a highly competitive field.
Here are the five curlers to watch for in Beijing.
1. Anna Hasselborg, Team Sweden
Anna Hasselborg will lead Team Sweden in its quest to defend the country’s 2018 curling gold medal. The 32-year-old Swede has continued to dominate the sport since PyeongChang, making history in 2018 as the first curling athlete in history to hold the European Curling Championship gold medal, the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship gold medal and the Olympic gold medal simultaneously. Hasselborg and teammates Agnes Knochenhauer, Sara McManus and Sofia Mabergs are heavy favorites to repeat gold in Beijing.
2. Tabitha Peterson, Team USA
Tabitha Peterson returns for her second Winter Games, leading a team that includes sister Tara Peterson as well as Nina Roth, Becca Hamilton and alternate Aileen Geving. The American skip is looking to improve upon her eighth-place finish in PyeongChang and put United States curling on the map. Peterson has had some promising results of late, including a bronze-medal finish at the 2021 World Championships that earned the U.S. its first medal there in 15 years.
3. Silvana Tirinzoni, Team Switzerland
Reigning world champion Silvana Tirinzoni headlines Switzerland’s Olympic curling team, which also includes Alina Pätz, Esther Neuenschwander, Melanie Barbezat and Carole Howald. The 41-year-old looks to lead the group to a playoff spot after finishing seventh overall in PyeongChang. Tirinzoni and Switzerland are head into the competition in Beijing poised to challenge Team Sweden for a curling gold medal.
4. Jennifer Jones, Team Canada
Jennifer Jones is set to compete in her second Winter Games, joined by teammates Dawn McEwen, Jocelyn Peterman, Kaitlyn Lawes and alternate Lisa Weagle. The skip will aim to clinch her second gold medal after topping the podium at the 2014 Sochi Games with an undefeated 11-0 run. At 47 years old, Jones is poised to make history in Beijing as Canada’s oldest winter Olympian ever.
5. Eve Muirhead, Team Great Britain
Eve Muirhead will make her fourth Olympic appearance in Beijing, entering the Winter Games with a 2014 bronze medal from a commanding performance in Sochi. After narrowly missing the podium in 2018, Muirhead will hope to lead her team of Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright, Hailey Duff and alternate Mili Smith to an Olympic medal.