Historic Upset at Milan-Cortina: U.S. Women Defeat Canada for First Time
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
The U.S. women’s curling team shattered a nearly 30-year losing streak at the Milan-Cortina Games, securing their first-ever Olympic victory over powerhouse Canada in a stunning 9-8 upset.
Breaking the Ice Ceiling
On Friday, February 13, 2026, the American squad, led by skip Tabitha Peterson, edged out Canada with a final score of 9-8 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium [2][4][5]. This victory is statistically significant; since women’s curling was introduced to the Olympic program in 1998, the United States had lost every single matchup against their northern neighbors, holding a 0-8 record across nearly three decades of competition [2][6]. The win was secured in the 10th end when Peterson executed an open draw for a deuce, overcoming a late 8-7 deficit established by Canada in the ninth end [4]. The result moved the United States to a 2-1 record in round-robin play, while Canada fell to 1-1 [4][6].
A Statistical Anomaly Corrected
The magnitude of this upset cannot be overstated when analyzing the historical data. Canada’s Team Homan entered the match ranked number one in the world and boasted a formidable 12-1 career record against Peterson’s rink prior to this game [1][2][6]. The American team was reportedly unaware of the historical weight of their achievement until informed by the press post-match [1][6]. Taylor Anderson-Heide, a Minneapolis native, noted that if the statistic was true, it simply validated that they had played a strong game against the world’s top-ranked team [1][2]. This victory mirrors the trajectory of the U.S. men’s team, who defeated Canada en route to their own historic gold medal in 2018, a milestone the women’s program had yet to replicate until this breakthrough [1][2].
Professionals on and off the Ice
The composition of the U.S. team highlights a unique dynamic of balancing elite athletics with professional careers and motherhood. The roster features Tabitha Peterson as a pharmacist, her sister Tara Peterson as a dentist, and Cory Thiesse as a lab technician [2]. Furthermore, the team has experienced a baby boom leading up to the Milan-Cortina Games. Tara Peterson gave birth to her son, Eddie, in September 2024, while Tabitha welcomed her daughter, Noelle, just a few months later [1][2]. Alternate Aileen Geving is also a mother, having had her daughter Sienna following the 2018 Games [1][2]. Tara Peterson emphasized the grounding nature of their dual lives, noting that despite competing against Olympians, they maintain a “normal life” where competitors often share dinner or a beer after matches [1].
The Broader Olympic Picture
While the women celebrated their historic upset, the rivalry between the two nations played out differently on the men’s side earlier the same day. On Friday morning, the Canadian men’s team, skipped by Brad Jacobs, defeated the American team led by Daniel Casper with a score of 6-3 [5]. That match was characterized by a raucous atmosphere at the venue, which retired Canadian curler Glenn Howard described as perhaps the loudest he had ever heard [5]. As the tournament progresses toward the semifinals, the U.S. women’s team sits in a strong position with a 2-1 record, having beaten Korea and Canada, with their only loss coming against Sweden [1][2]. The mixed results across the men’s and women’s draws underscore the fierce competitiveness of the North American rivalry in winter sports.