The U.S. women’s curling team achieved a historic milestone on Friday by defeating Canada, a team long regarded as a powerhouse in the sport, with a nail-biting score of 9-8. This remarkable victory marked the first time the U.S. women have triumphed over Canada in Olympic competition since women’s curling was introduced to the Games in 1998.
Minneapolis native Taylor Anderson-Heide expressed surprise at the significance of the win, stating, “If that’s true, I think we just played a really good game. They’re No. 1 in the world.” Tara Peterson from Shoreview, Minnesota, echoed her teammate’s sentiments, noting the pride in beating Canadian skip Rachel Homan, emphasizing, “It just always feels really good to beat them.”
Historically, every encounter between the U.S. and Canadian women’s curling teams at the Olympics had ended in U.S. defeat until this groundbreaking match. While the U.S. men have celebrated victories against Canada, including a notable triumph at the Olympic final in 2018, the women’s team had yet to replicate that success until now.
The American team capitalized on some missteps from Canada during the match, and the win was celebrated with a jubilant walk down the ice, raising fists in triumph as they returned to their coaches. Both Peterson and Anderson-Heide were quick to emphasize the special nature of their achievement, acknowledging the significance of breaking the Olympic barrier against such a formidable opponent.
This year’s team exemplifies a blend of approachability and ambition, featuring not just athletes but also working professionals and mothers. In addition to Anderson-Heide and Peterson, the roster includes skip Tabitha Peterson, Tara’s older sister, and Cory Thiesse, who previously earned a silver medal in mixed doubles. The group also has Aileen Geving, who serves as an alternate.
In balancing their athletic pursuits with personal lives, three team members juggle jobs outside of curling while also being mothers. Tara is a dentist, Tabitha works as a pharmacist, and Thiesse is a lab technician. Their dedication both on and off the ice was highlighted by Tara giving birth to her son Eddie in September 2024, while Tabitha welcomed her daughter Noelle just a few months later, and Geving had her daughter Sienna after the 2018 Games.
As the team continues their journey in the current competition, they hold a record of 2-1, having previously defeated Korea and suffering a loss against Sweden. With several matches left in the round-robin stage leading up to the semifinals next Friday, the U.S. women’s curling team is poised for further success as they aim for more groundbreaking achievements in this Olympic campaign.