In a surprising twist at the Winter Olympics, Team USA achieved a historic win against Canada, led by skip Tabitha Peterson, who defeated Rachel Homan’s highly-ranked squad with a final score of 9-8. This victory, which took place on Friday, marks the first time a U.S. women’s curling team has triumphed over Canada in Olympic history.
Despite starting strong, Homan’s team, now with a record of 1-1 at Milano Cortina 2026, faced challenges throughout the match. Homan, who held a dominant 12-1 record against Peterson’s rink prior to this game, acknowledged the team’s struggles post-match. “Just not making the shots we normally make,” she remarked to CBC Olympics. “I think the ice was fairly consistent. We just need to play better than that.”
The Canadian team initially led 3-2 at halftime, but the tides turned significantly in the sixth end. With the Americans positioned to score heavily, Homan was unable to execute critical doubles, allowing Peterson to seize the opportunity and take a 6-3 lead by scoring four points.
As the game progressed, both teams faced difficulties, and the Americans appeared to falter momentarily. Peterson’s miss in the ninth end allowed Homan to capitalize, scoring three points and giving Canada an 8-7 lead. However, in a nail-biting conclusion, Peterson’s misfire in the 10th end left the door ajar for Peterson, who sealed the victory with a decisive draw on her final shot.
Canada’s curling team is determined to respond as they have one more match scheduled for Friday, with Brad Jacobs taking on Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin, which is still searching for its first win. Jacobs himself claimed victory earlier in the day, bringing his record to 2-0 against the U.S.
This Olympic campaign marks Homan’s third appearance, following her participation in the women’s discipline in 2018 and the mixed doubles event in 2022. The team remains hopeful as they continue to strive for a podium finish, aiming to reclaim their status in women’s curling on the Olympic stage.