Womens Curling: Team USA Advances to Winter Olympics 2026 Semifinals After Peterson Extra-End Hammer

Team USA secured a semifinal berth at Winter Olympics 2026 with a dramatic 7-6 extra-end victory over Switzerland, capped by a clutch final hammer from Tabitha Peterson. The win guarantees the United States a spot in the playoffs and marks one of the tournament’s most tense finishes — an outcome that matters because it keeps the American title hopes alive at the Olympic stage in womens curling.

Womens Curling: End-by-End Breakdown

The match unfolded as a sequence of strategic plays and momentum swings, ending with Peterson delivering the decisive stone in the extra end. Key scoring moments from the official progression of ends were:

• Second end: Peterson used the hammer to score the game’s first point and put the U. S. ahead 1-0.
• Third end: Switzerland tied the match using its hammer, leveling the score.
• Fourth end: Peterson again placed the hammer nearly on the button to restore a 2-1 lead for the United States.
• Fifth end: The U. S. executed a defensive plan, forcing Switzerland into contact with a guarded stone and stealing a point to go up 3-1.
• Sixth end: Switzerland limited damage to a single point, narrowing the margin to 3-2.
• Seventh end: Peterson’s hammer produced two points, extending the U. S. lead to 5-2.
• Eighth end: Switzerland managed one point, making it 5-3.
• Ninth end: The U. S. settled for a single after a late defensive clearance, moving ahead 6-3.
• Tenth end: Switzerland converted the hammer into a three-point rally to tie the score 6-6 and force an extra end.
• Extra end: Holding the hammer, Team USA won when Peterson executed a final measuring-line shot that narrowly avoided the need for a measurement and produced the walk-off 7-6 victory.

How Peterson’s Final Hammer Decided the Semifinal Spot

Peterson’s final sequence defined the match. After conceding three points in the 10th end and missing early attempts in the extra, she still had the hammer — the strategic edge in the final end. The decisive shot required precise placement against heavy pressure; it nearly triggered a measurement before the call went the U. S. way and the walk-off was confirmed. That single stone converted a must-win situation into a guaranteed playoff berth for the American side.

Beyond the final stone, the game showcased a mix of defensive strategy and timely offense. The U. S. employed deliberate house clears and defensive guards early to protect hammer ends, then capitalized on opportunities to force steals and multi-point ends. Switzerland’s resilience — especially the three-point response in the 10th — kept the match alive and underscored how quickly the balance can shift in womens curling, where the hammer and a single precise shot can determine advancement.

With the 7-6 result, Team USA moves into the semifinals of the Winter Olympics 2026 tournament. The mechanics of the victory — a late comeback by Switzerland, a pressure-packed extra end, a near-measurement decision, and Peterson’s final execution — will be remembered as a defining moment for the U. S. squad in this olympic campaign. Details about the next opponent and schedule were not part of the match report available at the time of this coverage.

Recent developments indicate the situation is settled: Team USA has secured the playoff spot. Further details about semifinal pairings and timing may follow as the tournament advances; those specifics were not included in the match summary provided here.