Usa Women's Curling Results: Peterson's Final Stone Delivers First U.S. Olympic Semifinal Berth Since 2002

Tabitha Peterson's final stone in an extra end produced a walk-off 7-6 win over Switzerland, sending the United States women into the Olympic semifinals for the first time since 2002. Usa Women's Curling Results now show a dramatic, inch-deciding victory that kept Team USA alive and sent the arena into a mix of relief and elation.

Usa Women's Curling Results — the inch that decided it

The match boiled down to a single, precisely placed rock. The Americans led 6-3 before Switzerland scored three in the 10th to force an extra end. With the hammer in hand, Peterson navigated a crowded path to the button and squeezed the final stone just closer than two Swiss stones to clinch the win.

Tara Peterson, who helped sweep that decisive stone, captured the moment in simple terms: "An inch, two inches — it was definitely us. " For the U. S. side, ranked lower coming into the Games, the shot ended two decades of Olympic round-robin exits and advanced the team to the last four.

How the extra end, the hammer and measurements shape outcomes

Curling matches are played in ends where teams alternately deliver stones toward a target called the button. Holding the hammer, or last stone, is a strategic advantage because it gives the final opportunity to score. If teams are tied after the scheduled ends, play moves to an extra end where the hammer can decide the outcome. When stones are extremely close to the button, a measurement can be used to determine which stone sits closest, though in this match the final location was clear enough not to require one.

Throughout this game the U. S. mixed offensive draws and defensive clears, at one point choosing to clear the house to preserve the hammer. Switzerland used its hammer to score a crucial three in the 10th, but it was the U. S. response in the extra end that ultimately mattered.

Further details about shot selection and timing were not immediately available, but the sequence of single-point exchanges, a stolen end for the Americans, and the late Swiss surge set up a truly tense finish.

The outcome also mattered beyond the rink. Great Britain was playing Italy at the same time and needed to win while hoping the U. S. would falter; when the Americans held, that dynamic was resolved. Switzerland had already secured a place in the last four before this match, while the U. S. earned its spot with the walk-off victory. Fans in the stands and teammates on the ice felt the tangible lift of advancement, and national hopes now travel with the team into the medal rounds.

Tabitha Peterson reflected on the mechanics of the shot and the endgame, noting that as the extra end "looked like I was going to have a whole four for a draw or a tap, " she prepared for that type of play and executed when it mattered most.

Team USA will now turn its focus to the semifinals, where the next result will determine who plays for medals.