US Women’s Curling Targets Bronze Medal Following Semifinal Defeat

2026-02-21 general

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Overpowered by Alina Patz’s near-perfect 99% shooting accuracy, Team USA fell to Switzerland. The Americans now face Canada for bronze, aiming to secure a podium finish.

Statistical Breakdown of the Semifinal Loss

The path to the gold medal ended for the United States women’s curling team on Friday, February 20, following a 7-4 defeat to Switzerland in the semifinals [1][4]. While the American squad, skipped by Tabitha Peterson, fought to keep the match competitive, they were ultimately outmatched by a Swiss team operating at peak efficiency. The statistical disparity was particularly evident in defensive play; Switzerland executed a total of 48 takeouts compared to 25 for the Americans, a difference of 23 stones [1]. This volume of removal was backed by superior accuracy, with the Swiss side maintaining a 90% success rate on takeout attempts against Team USA’s 71% [1].

Alina Patz’s Dominance

A primary driver of the Swiss victory was the near-flawless performance of Alina Patz. Patz delivered a masterclass in precision, recording a 99% shooting percentage on game shots [1]. Her technical execution included a perfect 100% record on draw shots and a stifling 98% accuracy on takeouts [1]. Such consistency placed immense pressure on the U.S. strategy, preventing them from capitalizing on the few openings available. In contrast, Team USA shot 82% overall, a respectable figure but insufficient to dismantle the defensive wall erected by Switzerland, who shot 85% as a team [1].

Bronze Medal Implications and Schedule

Following the semifinal loss, Team USA must immediately pivot to the bronze medal match scheduled for today, Saturday, February 21, at 8:05 a.m. ET [1]. They will face Canada, a team they narrowly defeated 9-8 during round-robin play on February 13 [1]. The stakes remain high for both nations; the United States is vying for a podium finish after reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2002, while Canada is seeking its first women’s curling medal since 2014 [1][2]. Meanwhile, Switzerland advances to the gold medal game to face Sweden on Sunday, February 22 [1].

Men’s Tournament Conclusion

On the men’s side of the bracket, the United States concluded their Olympic run earlier in the week. The team, led by skip Danny Casper, finished in sixth place with a 4-5 record after a 9-2 loss to Great Britain on Wednesday, February 18 [3]. That defeat extinguished their semifinal hopes, as Great Britain surged forward to eventually reach the gold medal game against Canada [6]. The men’s medal events are set to conclude today, Saturday, February 21, wrapping up a fiercely competitive week on the ice [6].

Sources

Winter Olympics Curling