The U.S. women’s curling team went down to the wire in their attempt to advance to the Olympics medal round for the first time, taking a three-point lead into the 10th end and beyond.
In the end, the destination was reached.
United States’ Tabitha Peterson in action during the women’s curling round robin session against Switzerland, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
Switzerland used a four-point swing in the 10th end to send the match into an extra frame, but U.S. skip Tabitha Peterson used the hammer to curl a shot around three Swiss stones and rest it closest to the button to end the U.S. into the Olympic semifinals for the first time with a 7-6 victory.
The U.S. (6-3) and Switzerland (6-3) will meet again Friday for a chance to play for gold. The loser will move on to Friday’s bronze medal match.
It was a difficult task for the Americans, perhaps more difficult than it appeared it would be after their 4-1 start in round-robin play. But a surprise loss to previously winless Italy changed the trajectory.
A dominant win over Denmark gave Team Peterson — which also includes Tara Peterson, Cory Thiesse and Taylor Anderson-Heide — a chance to clinch a medal round spot with a victory in their last two pool play matches.
They had Great Britain on the ropes, up one in the 10th before skip Rebecca Morrison pulled off a two-point bank shot off a blocking stone for a 9-8, and were up by three on the Swiss before fourth Alina Paetz tied the game with a three-point hammer throw.
But Tabitha Peterson, as she has throughout round-robin play, came through in the end with a difficult winning shot, edging a pair of Swiss stones by inches to send the Americans into their first semifinal.
Because Great Britain beat Italy on Thursday, the U.S. had to beat Switzerland or be thrown into a tiebreaker situation to advance.
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