U.S. Teams Vie for Gold as Drama Unfolds on Day 14 of the 2026 Winter Olympics
Team USA surged into Day 14 of the 2026 Winter Olympics with medal hopes alive in multiple disciplines, including men's hockey and women's curling. As the Games entered their final stretch, the competition intensified, with semifinals and finals across the marquee winter sports drawing global attention.
Freestyle skiing, speed skating, and curling took center stage, with live updates capturing every twist and turn from Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Medal standings shifted throughout the day as athletes from around the world battled for Olympic glory, but much of the American spotlight rested on the ice.
- The U.S. men's hockey team faced a pivotal semifinal, hoping to secure their first gold medal game appearance since 2010.
- Team USA's women’s curling squad squared off against Switzerland, seeking a return to the podium after missing out in 2022.
- Freestyle skiing and speed skating events provided additional medal opportunities for several nations, further tightening the overall standings.
According to live reports from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Day 14 featured a packed schedule, with major events unfolding nearly every hour. The U.S. men’s hockey semifinal was among the day's most anticipated matchups, as highlighted by CNN, which questioned whether the American squad could break through to the final after several strong showings in the preliminary rounds.
The U.S. men’s hockey team had impressed throughout the tournament, advancing through group play with an unbeaten record. Their semifinal opponent presented a formidable challenge, with Olympic veterans and emerging stars on both sides. The stakes were high: a win would secure a shot at the gold, while a loss would relegate the team to the bronze medal contest.
Simultaneously, the U.S. women’s curling team entered their semifinal against Switzerland, a rematch of previous Olympic encounters. NBC Olympics and NBC News both covered the matchup, noting the Americans' determination to improve on their prior results. The Swiss team, a perennial contender in international curling, brought a history of Olympic success and technical precision to the ice.
- The U.S. women finished the round-robin stage with a strong record, earning their place in the semifinals.
- Switzerland arrived as one of the tournament favorites, having medaled in three of the last four Games.
Elsewhere at the Games, freestyle skiing showcased high-flying performances and surprise finishes, while speed skating events contributed to a rapidly evolving medal table. The Los Angeles Times provided detailed results and a live medal count, tracking the progress of leading nations as the day unfolded.
With only a handful of days left in the 2026 Winter Olympics, the competition for spots atop the overall medal standings intensified. The U.S. continued to contend for a top-three finish, relying on strong showings from its signature winter sports teams.
As the action moved into the evening, fans and analysts awaited the outcomes of the day's high-stakes semifinals. The possibility of dual gold medal opportunities for U.S. hockey and curling kept American hopes high and set the stage for a dramatic finish to the Games.
Sources
- [1]The New York Times
- [2]NBC Olympics
- [3]NBC News
- [4]Los Angeles Times
- [5]CNN