womens curling: GB beat Italy 7-4 but exit after USA's extra-end shock
On Day 13 of the Winter Olympics (Feb. 19, 2026 ET), Team GB's women produced a composed 7-4 victory over Italy but were left agonisingly out of the medal race after the United States prevailed 7-6 over Switzerland in an extra end. The late twist confirmed GB's elimination despite an encouraging performance, while the nation's men secured progress to the semi-finals.
GB women win but tournament math delivers cruel finish
The British women's rink closed out their round-robin schedule with a 7-4 victory over Italy, executing smart shotmaking and steady house management throughout the contest. Key ends saw the GB skip and front-end combine to blank a couple of dangerous scoring opportunities from the hosts and convert pressure into counting stones when it mattered.
Yet the result left the fate of the British women out of their hands. A dramatic extra-end showdown between the United States and Switzerland produced the outcome that knocked GB out: the USA eked out a 7-6 victory in extra ends, a finish that simultaneously delivered heartbreak for the British side and kept the American rink alive. The sequence underlined the unforgiving arithmetic of the Olympic round-robin, where a strong single performance can still be nullified by other late-day permutations.
USA’s extra-end win seals GB elimination, Switzerland knocked off medal path
The deciding match went the distance, with the American rink converting a clutch shot in the extra end to steal a one-point win over Switzerland. That narrow victory reshaped the qualification table and ensured that, despite beating Italy, the British women could not climb high enough to reach the semi-finals.
For Switzerland the loss was equally painful: after fighting through regulation, the Swiss were unable to close out the game in extra ends and saw their own semi-final hopes dim. The evening’s finish demonstrated how small margins — one pick, one missed draw, one brilliant takeout — continue to define Olympic curling drama. For the British women, the feeling was bittersweet: they delivered when required on ice but were ultimately eliminated by others’ results rather than their own shortcomings.
Men’s side advances: Mouat’s rink through to semi-finals
While the women's campaign ended in frustration, the men's team delivered a high-stakes result that kept Great Britain firmly in contention. Bruce Mouat's rink advanced to the semi-finals after the round-robin permutations fell in their favour following a defeat for the Italian men. That reversal for the hosts effectively cleared the pathway, leaving Mouat and his crew set to face Switzerland in the last four.
The men’s semi-final draw now pits Great Britain against a familiar European opponent, setting up a tactical battle where precision draws and timely takeouts will be decisive. GB’s progress to the semis eases some national disappointment from the women’s exit, but it also raises the stakes for the next match: a win would keep Britain in the hunt for Olympic hardware, while a loss would abruptly end a strong tournament showing.
As the curling schedule moves into knockout mode, the stark contrast between the two GB squads encapsulates the wider drama of these Games: moments of controlled excellence met by the sharp edges of tournament math and last-second heroics. For the GB women, the lesson is a painful one — a convincing win can still end without a podium opportunity if the wider hood of results goes against you. For the men's team, the focus now shifts to preparation and execution ahead of a high-pressure semi-final tie against Switzerland.
