The pursuit of Olympic bronze in women's curling saw Canada triumph over the United States in a close contest. This match marked the culmination of a challenging tournament for both teams, with the final score reflecting a hard-fought battle for third place on the global stage.
Tournament Journey and Bronze Medal Match
Canada's path to the bronze medal match involved navigating the preliminary rounds and a semifinal loss. The team, led by Rachel Homan, had previously reached the semifinals after finishing the round-robin in fourth place. They faced Sweden in their semifinal, a match that determined a spot in the gold medal game.
The United States team, skippered by Tabitha Peterson, also experienced a semifinal defeat. Their journey to the playoffs was secured by winning their final round-robin games, thereby preventing Great Britain and the Republic of Korea from advancing. The Americans achieved a notable milestone by reaching the Olympic semifinals, becoming only the second U.S. women's curling team to do so. Their path to the semifinals included an "epic" 11th-end victory over Switzerland.
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The bronze medal match itself was characterized by tight play. Over the first five ends, the score was level. Canada's Rachel Homan then executed a draw that secured a three-point end, giving her team a 5-3 lead. This proved to be a decisive moment in a game where both teams had previously suffered semifinal losses and were focused on achieving a medal. The final score, as reported by Sports Illustrated, was Canada 10, United States 7.
Historical Context and Previous Encounters
A significant element leading into the bronze medal match was the historical record between the two nations in Olympic women's curling. Prior to a recent encounter, Canada had held a perfect 8-0 record against the United States in Olympic play.
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However, this historical dominance was broken on February 13, 2026. On this date, the U.S. women's curling team, led by Tabitha Peterson, defeated Rachel Homan's Canadian team by a score of 9-8. This victory was described as a "massive curling shocker" and a "curling first" for the U.S. in the Olympics. Reports indicated that Canada missed approximately a quarter of their shots in this particular game, a statistic described as "shockingly low." Tabitha Peterson acknowledged the win but was reportedly unaware it was the first time her country had achieved such a victory against Canada at the Olympics.
This earlier upset occurred during the round-robin stage, influencing the perception of the teams heading into the later stages of the tournament.
Team Dynamics and Player Backgrounds
The U.S. team includes Tabitha Peterson as skip, with her younger sister Tara Peterson also on the team. Cory Thiesse, who had previously won a silver medal in mixed doubles, is noted for her "cool-as-a-cucumber" demeanor. The players bring diverse professional backgrounds: Tara Peterson is a dentist, Tabitha Peterson is a pharmacist, and Cory Thiesse is a lab technician.
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Canada's team is led by Rachel Homan, a three-time world champion. The team's performance in the bronze medal match was characterized by taking advantage of opportunities, such as Homan's draw to regain the lead.
Post-Semifinal Performance
Following their respective semifinal losses, both teams expressed a commitment to regrouping and performing well in the bronze medal game. The Cortina Curling Center was the venue for this significant matchup. The intensity of the bronze medal game was evident, with the score remaining tied for several ends before Canada established a lead.
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Conclusion
Canada's victory over the United States for the Olympic women's curling bronze medal highlights a competitive tournament. While the U.S. team continues its quest for a first Olympic medal in women's curling, their performance, including reaching the semifinals, demonstrates significant progress. Canada, with its Olympic bronze, adds to its strong presence in the sport. The recent upset in the round-robin by the U.S. underscores the evolving competitive landscape between these two nations.
Sources Used:
The New York Times (The Athletic): Published 16 hours ago. Provided details on the bronze medal match, including the score progression and the low five-end score, as well as the emotional state of the teams post-semifinals.
Sports Illustrated: Published 3 hours ago. Confirmed the final score of the bronze medal match (Canada 10, USA 7) and noted the critical 6th end.
Link: https://www.si.com/winter-olympics/team-usa-womens-curling-live-updates-bronze-medal-match-canada
Olympics.com: Published 2 days ago. Provided context on how both teams qualified for the playoffs and their semifinal matchups. Quoted Cory Thiesse on the nature of single-elimination games.
CBS News: Published Feb 14, 2026. Reported on the U.S. victory over Canada as an "Olympic first" and provided background on the U.S. team members.
Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/olympics-us-womens-curling-team-beats-canada/
NBC Chicago: Published Feb 14, 2026. Also framed the U.S. victory over Canada as an Olympic first and mentioned team member backgrounds and Canada's reputation.
New York Post: Published Feb 13, 2026. Described the U.S. win against Canada as a "massive curling shocker" and an upset, noting it was the first time the U.S. had beaten Canada at the Olympics.
National Post: Published Feb 13, 2026. Detailed Canada's loss to the U.S. (9-8), marking the first Olympic women's curling loss for Canada against the U.S., and mentioned Canada's performance issues.
Team Canada: Published Feb 13, 2026. Discussed Canada's loss to the U.S. ending their winning streak and highlighted low shooting percentages for Canada in that game.
NBC Olympics: Published Feb 13, 2026. Briefly mentioned a U.S. comeback win against Canada in the 10th end.
