84 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Curling Championships Start in Sioux Falls, SD

The stage is set for the United States Curling teams to continue their path to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with championships soon to be decided in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

With the pool play now in the rearview mirror, the stage is officially set for a dramatic finals weekend. On the men’s side, the seemingly unstoppable Team Shuster will take on the determined Team Casper. For the women, a nail-biting tiebreaker saw Team Cousins emerge victorious against Team Strouse, earning them a hard-fought showdown with the formidable Team Peterson.

Men’s Finals: Shuster’s Quest for More Gold

John Shuster, an Olympic gold medalist and a name synonymous with American curling greatness, guided his team to a flawless 6-0 record through pool play. Their path was one of pure dominance, securing a finals berth early on Day 2. 

The Curling team didn’t let up, clinching the crucial No. 1 seed with two more victories on Thursday. This perfect record grants them a massive advantage in the best-of-three finals: they get to choose their stones and will have the hammer—the last and often decisive shot—in all three potential games. 

For Shuster, this is familiar territory as he chases his fifth consecutive Olympic Trials win as a skip.

Facing them is the underdog Team Casper, making their very first appearance in a Curling Trials final. They earned their spot with grit and timely execution, particularly in their matches against Team Dropkin. 

After a heartbreaking loss to them at the national championships earlier this year, revenge was sweet as Casper defeated them twice at the Curling Trials. Skip Danny Casper delivered clutch hammer throws that electrified the Sioux Falls crowd and fueled his team to victory. For Danny and his teammates, Luc Violette, Ben Richardson, and Aidan Oldenburg, this final represents the culmination of a hard-fought journey and a chance to make history.

Women’s Finals: A Battle of Experience vs. Resilience

The journey to the women’s final was a rollercoaster. Team Cousins, led by skip Elizabeth Cousins, overcame a disastrous Day 3 and a nightmarish start to their tiebreaker match against Team Strouse. 

After falling behind 4-1, they mounted an incredible comeback, showcasing a mental fortitude that carried them to a gutsy 9-5 win. This victory propelled them into their first-ever Team Trials final, a testament to their resilience and determination.

Their opponents, Team Peterson, bring a wealth of experience. Sisters Tabitha and Tara Peterson were part of the team that won the 2021 Trials and represented the USA in Beijing. 

With a strong 5-1 record in pool play, they secured the No. 1 seed, giving them the preferred stone choice and the hammer in Games 1 and 3 of the finals. Alongside Cory Thiesse and Taylor Heide-Anderson, the Peterson rink is looking to replicate their past success and once again earn the honor of wearing the red, white, and blue on the world’s biggest stage.

Curling Finals Schedule (All Times ET)

Friday, Nov. 14

• 3:00 p.m. – Women’s Final, Game 1: Peterson vs. Cousins
• 8:00 p.m. – Men’s Final, Game 1: Shuster vs. Casper

Saturday, Nov. 15

• 3:00 p.m. – Women’s Final, Game 2: Peterson vs. Cousins
• 7:00 p.m. – Men’s Final, Game 2: Shuster vs. Casper

Sunday, Nov. 16 (If Necessary)

• 2:30 p.m. – Women’s Final, Game 3: Peterson vs. Cousins
• 7:00 p.m. – Men’s Final, Game 3: Shuster vs. Casper