CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — The United States’ quest for its first Olympic gold in women’s curling came to an end on Friday when a stellar performance from Switzerland’s Alina Pätz secured their place in the final. Just a day after American skipper Tabitha Peterson led her team to a thrilling victory over Switzerland to earn a semifinal spot, the Swiss team returned with remarkable precision, leaving little room for mistakes.
In a challenging matchup, the Americans found themselves trailing 5-4 as they entered the pivotal 10th end, hoping for a Swiss misstep that never materialized. Pätz demonstrated her exceptional skill by executing a perfect take-out to score two points, propelling her team into the gold medal match scheduled for Sunday.
In the other semifinal, Sweden, the top-ranked team in the round-robin stage, defeated Canada with a score of 6-3. The game shifted in favor of Swedish skipper Anna Hasselborg when she scored two points during the sixth end, allowing her team to maintain control for the remainder of the match. Hasselborg previously claimed gold in 2018 and contributed to Sweden’s victory over Switzerland in the bronze medal match at the 2022 Olympics. This weekend’s final will be a rematch of that encounter, with both teams vying for Olympic glory.
While the U.S. faces Canada in the bronze medal match on Saturday, the stakes remain high for both teams. Historically, no American women’s curling team has achieved an Olympic medal, and Canadian skipper Rachel Homan, despite her three world titles, is also seeking her first Olympic podium finish.
Alina Pätz, a six-time world champion, will aim for her first Olympic medal after narrowly missing out on bronze in past competitions. Her continued prowess in curling makes her a formidable opponent in the final.
This breaking news highlights the competitive nature of Olympic curling and sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the women’s tournament. Expect further developments as the finals approach.