Team USA is on the brink of Olympic glory, but Friday's semifinals in curling and hockey present formidable challenges! As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics enters its thrilling fourteenth day, the United States teams are poised to make a significant push for gold. This page may contain affiliate links; if you make a purchase or place a wager through them, we might receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
The action heats up on Friday with some nail-biting semifinal matchups that could determine the fate of Team USA's medal aspirations. Following the electrifying overtime victory of the U.S. women's hockey team against Canada, the men's squad is set to hit the ice for their own shot at international supremacy. They're scheduled to face off against Slovakia at 3:10 p.m. ET. This is no ordinary opponent; Slovakia is on an incredible underdog run, featuring stars like Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens.
But here's where it gets tense... The U.S. men's hockey team barely scraped by in the quarterfinals, needing an overtime goal from Quinn Hughes to overcome Sweden and avoid a premature exit. Can they maintain that momentum against a surging Slovakian team?
Meanwhile, the U.S. women's curling team is also playing its penultimate game, a crucial semifinal clash against Switzerland at 8:05 a.m. ET. The Americans secured their spot in the semis with a hard-fought round-robin victory over the Swiss just yesterday. Now, Switzerland has a chance for redemption, especially after that pivotal 10th-end shot that went the Americans' way. Will Switzerland get their revenge, or will the U.S. women continue their march toward gold?
Beyond the team sports, individual athletes are also vying for podium finishes. Two-time Olympic medalist Brittany Bowe will compete for her first 1500-meter speed skating medal at 10:30 a.m. ET. In freestyle skiing, Alex Ferreira, a silver medalist in 2018 and bronze medalist in 2022 for the halfpipe, is aiming for that elusive first-place finish. He's joined by Nick Goepper, a three-time Olympic medalist in slopestyle, who is also looking to medal in the halfpipe for the first time.
And this is the part most people miss... While the focus is on the medal count, the mental fortitude required for these high-stakes semifinals is immense. The pressure to perform after a close call, or to overcome a previous loss, can be a significant factor. Do you think Team USA has the mental edge needed for these crucial games?
Friday, February 20th, 2026 - Key Olympic Events (All Times ET):
- 4 a.m. - 8 a.m.: Freestyle Skiing: Women's Ski Cross (Medal Event)
- 8:05 a.m.: Curling: Women's Semifinals, United States vs. Switzerland
- 8:15 a.m.: Biathlon: Men's 15km Mass Start (Medal Event)
- 10:30 a.m.: Speed Skating: Women's 1500m (Medal Event)
- 10:40 a.m.: Ice Hockey: Men's Semifinals, Canada vs. Finland
- 1:05 p.m.: Curling: Men's Bronze Medal Match, Norway vs. Switzerland (Medal Event)
- 1:30 p.m.: Freestyle Skiing: Men's Halfpipe (Medal Event)
- 2:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Short Track Speed Skating: Women's 1500m; Men's 5000m relay (Medal Events)
- 3:10 p.m.: Ice Hockey: Men's Semifinals, United States vs. Slovakia
Live Update:
🥌 USA falls to Switzerland in semifinal, will play Canada for Olympic bronze.
Team USA's women's curling team faced a tough defeat, losing 6-4 to Switzerland in the Olympic semifinal. Their chance for gold was dashed when Tabitha Peterson's ambitious three-point shot in the ninth end only yielded a single point, leaving Switzerland in control. Alina Paetz's crucial point in the eighth end had earlier extended the Swiss lead. Switzerland will now compete for the gold medal on Saturday, while Team USA will face Canada for the bronze medal. Canada, themselves, lost 6-3 to Sweden in their semifinal.
What are your thoughts on the curling outcome? Should teams take bigger risks in crucial moments, or is a safer play always the better option? Let us know in the comments!
