Womens Curling: Tabitha Peterson Leads U.S. to Olympic Semifinals with Extra-End Thriller

The United States secured a spot in the women's curling semifinals at the Milan Cortina Olympics by edging Switzerland 7-6 in a game that required an extra end. The result pushed the Americans into a rematch with the Swiss in the semifinals and reshuffled the late-stage picture in womens curling heading into the medal rounds.

Womens Curling: How the U. S. won the extra-end battle

The match in Cortina d'Ampezzo was tense throughout, with Switzerland rallying to tie the game at 6-6 after scoring three points in the 10th end. That parity forced an extra end, where the U. S. held the hammer. Skipped by Tabitha Peterson, the American team had the final draw. Looking visibly nervous, Peterson delivered the decisive rock while teammates swept it into position; the stone finished just a hair closer to the button than the Swiss closest stone, securing the 7-6 victory.

Semifinal matchups, standings and medal schedule

The Americans will meet Switzerland again in the semifinals on Friday. The other women's semifinal pairing will feature Sweden against Canada, with Canada having advanced earlier after a comeback win. Sweden enters the semifinals with the best record at 7-2, its only losses coming to South Korea and Canada. Switzerland, the United States and Canada each stand at 6-3 as they move into the knockout phase.

• Canada reached the semifinals with a 10-7 victory over South Korea, completing a rally after a slow start in the round robin.
• Sweden holds the top record entering the semis at 7-2.
• Switzerland, the United States and Canada are all 6-3 entering the semifinal weekend.

One athlete to watch among the American contingent is Cory Thiesse, who will be seeking a second medal at these Games after earning silver in mixed doubles with her partner. The remaining women's podium schedule is set: the bronze medal game will be played on Saturday and the gold medal game on Sunday.

Implications for the final rounds of womens curling

The extra-end victory underscores the fine margins that will define the medal rounds. A single execution on a final draw determined advancement in Cortina d'Ampezzo, and the rematch format means teams will need to quickly adapt to an opponent they just faced. The U. S. move into the semifinals preserves their medal chances and forces another high-stakes meeting with the Swiss, where strategy and execution under pressure will again be decisive.

As the tournament shifts from round robin positioning to knockout intensity, teams carrying momentum—or recovering from early slumps—will face different pressures. Canada’s path to the semis, capped by a multi-point win in its latest match, demonstrates how rebounds remain possible late in the event. For the United States, the extra-end win provides both a confidence boost and a reminder that margins are razor thin in Olympic-level womens curling.

Details for semifinal timing and other logistical updates will be finalized by the event schedule, and the matchups set by these results will determine who plays for bronze and gold later in the weekend.