US Women's Curling Team Achieves Historic Olympic Victory Over Canada
In a stunning turn of events at the Winter Olympics, the US women's curling team secured a landmark victory against Canada, marking the first time they have defeated their northern rivals in Olympic history. The athletes themselves were unaware of this milestone until informed by Associated Press reporters after the match on Friday, 13 February 2026.
A Surprising Revelation for the Team
Taylor Anderson-Heide, a Minneapolis native, expressed cautious disbelief upon learning the news. "If that's true, I think we just played a really good game. They're No. 1 in the world," she said. Tara Peterson from Shoreview, Minnesota, echoed this sentiment, adding, "It just always feels really good to beat (Canada skip) Rachel Homan. So any team to beat them, that's pretty impressive." Peterson further noted, "Apparently, we've never beat them in the Olympics before. That makes it just extra special."
Breaking a Long-Standing Streak
Since women's curling was introduced at the Olympics in 1998, the US and Canada have faced off at least once in every Games, with the US consistently falling short. This victory breaks that streak, though the US men's team had previously triumphed over Canada, notably in the 2018 Olympic final.
Canada's Team Homan, led by skip Rachel Homan, has long been regarded as the world's best. In Friday's closely contested match, which ended 9-8, the US capitalized on a few weak shots by Canada to clinch the win. After the victory, the American team celebrated by walking together down the ice, raising their fists in triumph. Peterson observed that the Canadians seemed less sharp than usual during the game.
Meet the Diverse US Team
This year's US women's curling team blends approachability with ambition, much like their Gen-Z men's counterparts. The roster includes:
- Skip Tabitha Peterson, Tara's older sister
- Cory Thiesse, known for her composure and a silver medalist in mixed doubles
- Aileen Geving from Minnesota, serving as an alternate
Notably, three team members balance curling with other professions: Tara is a dentist, Tabitha a pharmacist, and Thiesse a lab technician. Additionally, three are mothers to young children, with Tara giving birth to her son Eddie in September 2024, Tabitha having a daughter Noelle shortly after, and Geving welcoming daughter Sienna following the 2018 Games.
Looking Ahead in the Tournament
The US team has several matches remaining in the round-robin stage before the semifinals on Friday. So far, they have secured wins against Korea and Canada, while suffering a loss to Sweden. Their historic victory over Canada adds momentum as they continue their Olympic journey.
