Team USA Stays Perfect in Mixed Doubles Curling With Power-Play Victory Over Canada at Milano Cortina 2026

Team USA's mixed doubles curling duo of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin remained undefeated at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday, defeating previously unbeaten Canada 7-5 in what proved to be the tournament's most anticipated matchup to date. The American pair improved to 4-0 through two days of competition, establishing themselves as the team to beat in the round-robin stage. The victory marked Canada's first loss of the tournament after they had opened with three consecutive wins. The pivotal moment came in the seventh end when Thiesse and Dropkin executed a perfectly timed power play to score three points and break a 4-4 tie. Power plays in mixed doubles curling allow teams to position stones strategically before the end begins, creating scoring opportunities that can swing momentum dramatically. The Americans capitalized on their opportunity with precision shot-making and tactical brilliance, forcing the Canadian duo into defensive mode for the remainder of the match. Canada managed just a single point in the eighth end before conceding defeat. Thiesse and Dropkin kicked off their Olympic campaign by defeating Czechia earlier on Friday, making it two victories in one day for the American tandem. Their perfect 4-0 record puts them in prime position to secure a favorable playoff seed as the round-robin stage continues. The mixed doubles event serves as the opening curling competition at Milano Cortina 2026, with teams competing for medals before the traditional men's and women's team events begin later in the Games. Elsewhere in Friday's mixed doubles action, Great Britain defeated Sweden 7-4 to improve their medal prospects, while hosts Italy continued their strong showing with a dominant 12-4 victory over Switzerland. The Italian pair of Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner, who won silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, have energized home crowds in Cortina d'Ampezzo with their inspired play. The home fans have created an electric atmosphere at the Ice Arena, with Italian flags and chants providing a distinct home-ice advantage. The round-robin stage will continue over the next several days, with each team playing all other nations in the field before the medal rounds begin. Team USA's dominant start has positioned them as genuine gold medal contenders, with their technical precision and strategic acumen drawing praise from curling analysts. Thiesse and Dropkin will look to maintain their perfect record as they face several more challenging opponents in the days ahead. For Canada, the loss serves as their first setback but doesn't significantly damage their medal hopes with several matches remaining in the round-robin. The rivalry between USA and Canada in curling remains one of the sport's most compelling storylines, and Friday's encounter lived up to expectations with high-level shotmaking and tactical chess matches throughout. Both teams remain favorites to reach the medal rounds when the playoff stage begins next week.