Preview of Women’s Event at U.S. Olympic Curling Team Trials

Women’s curling is making a comeback on Tuesday with the start of the 2026 Olympic Team Trials, live on Peacock from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This five-day event will determine which U.S. national team will have a shot at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina. Led by two-time Olympian Tabitha Peterson, Team Peterson will be competing against Team Cousins, Team Strouse, and Team Johnson in the tournament.

Just like the men’s event, the top two rinks from the round-robin matchups will move on to the finals. The winning team from the best two-out-of-three series will have the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Qualification Event in December, vying for one of the final two spots in Milan Cortina against seven other countries.

Here’s the full schedule for the event if you’re looking to tune in:

– Nov. 11, 1:00 pm: Cousins vs. Peterson, Johnson vs. Strouse on Peacock
– Nov. 11, 8:00 pm: Cousins vs. Strouse, Johnson vs. Peterson on Peacock
– Nov. 12, 1:00 pm: Johnson vs. Cousins, Strouse vs. Peterson on Peacock
– Nov. 12, 8:00 pm: Peterson vs. Johnson, Strouse vs. Cousins on Peacock
– Nov. 13, 1:00 pm: Peterson vs. Cousins, Strouse vs. Johnson on Peacock
– Nov. 13, 8:00 pm: Johnson vs. Cousins, Peterson vs. Strouse on Peacock
– Nov. 14, 9:00 am: Tiebreaker (if needed) TBD
– Nov. 14, 3:00 pm: Women’s final No. 1 on NBC Sports Digital
– Nov. 15, 3:00 pm: Women’s final No. 2 on USA Network
– Nov. 16, 2:30 pm: Women’s final No. 3 (if needed) on USA Network

The favorite for the competition is Team Peterson, which has been dominating the women’s curling scene in the U.S. Led by skip Tabitha Peterson, they have secured three consecutive national championships and have represented the country in the 2022 Winter Games, finishing sixth. Their experience and exposure to high-pressure moments give them a definite edge in the upcoming Trials.

Team Peterson faced challenges last year when sisters Tabitha and Tara Peterson took a break to welcome their babies. Despite the changes, the team managed to win the 2025 National Championship, using the off-season to sharpen their skills and improve communication within the team.

Team Cousins, led by skip Elizabeth Cousins, show potential for a breakout performance after narrowly missing out on the championship to Team Peterson in 2025. Cousins, with a curling legacy in her family, believes in focusing on the game rather than obsessing over outcomes. Can they take the leap this year?

Team Strouse is the dark horse of the competition, navigating significant changes in the past year. Skip Delaney Strouse switched to sweeper after facing mental health challenges as a skip. The adjustment has been challenging, but the team has shown promise by defeating their competition in recent tournaments, including Team Peterson.

As the Women’s curling Team Trials kick off, it’s going to be an exciting week of fierce competition and excellent sportsmanship. Be sure to tune in to witness the action live on Peacock and other platforms.