USA Hockey goes for gold against Canada

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USA Hockey goes for gold against Canada

The US is one win away from gold, as USA Hockey takes on rival Canada this afternoon with a third Winter Olympics title at stake.

• The US enters today’s final on a historic tear, outscoring opponents 31-1 on an Olympic-record shutout streak — including a 5-0 win over Canada in pool play.

• “I think we’re all just playing together as a group, and that’s our strength,” said Team USA goaltender Aerin Frankel. “That makes us a pretty hard team to score on.”

Head-to-head: While the US hasn’t won Olympic gold since 2018, tides have recently shifted, with Team USA besting its northern neighbor in a winning streak dating back to April’s 2025 IIHF World Championship.

• Canada battled through the Olympic knockouts after its group-stage loss, relying on captain and all-time leading scorer Marie-Philip Poulin to secure Monday’s 2-1 semifinal win over Switzerland.

• Despite dealing with a lower-body injury, Poulin is set to lace up against US captain Hilary Knight for the last time on Olympic ice today, with the newly engaged Knight announcing that this year’s Games will be her last.

Tune in: The puck drops on the gold medal match today at 1:10 PM ET, live on USA.

Team USA takes one last shot at figure skating glory

As women’s free skate hits the ice in Milan, Team USA’s Olympic fate rests on the shoulders of reigning world champion Alysa Liu.

• Liu finished third in Tuesday’s short program with a score of 76.59, slightly behind Japan’s first and second place finishers Ami Nakai (78.71) and Kaori Sakamoto (77.23).

• “I’m really confident in myself, and even if I mess up and fall, that’s totally okay too,” Liu said this week, as she looks to end US figure skating’s 20-year women’s singles medal draught. (See full recap)

Comeback kids: Today’s event also offers Liu’s fellow Blade Angels a chance to right the ship, as eighth-place Isabeau Levito and 13th-place Amber Glenn come off mixed short program results.

• “I wanted to enjoy today, and unfortunately I didn’t get to,” an emotional Glenn said Tuesday, after a missed triple loop ended her medal hopes. “So hopefully I can try to find some happiness in the free skate.”

• “I felt very good out there,” said 18-year-old Levito. “I feel very well-trained, so I was able to enjoy the moment.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: The women’s free skate kicks off today at 1 PM ET, live on NBC.

WNBPA counters as CBA clock ticks down

The ball is back in the WNBA’s court, as the WNBPA reportedly countered the league’s latest CBA proposal this week — with sources confirming the union made concessions on revenue sharing and housing.

• The WNBPA is now stipulating an average gross revenue share of 27.5% — down from 31% — starting at 25% with a less-than-$9.5 million salary cap.

• The proposal also includes a sunset clause for team-provided housing, impacting players earning a near-maximum salary with provisions.

At a standoff: While the union appears open to shifting numbers, it remains committed to gross revenue sharing, contrasting the league’s net model.

• “The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams,” the WNBA told ESPN. “We still need to complete two Drafts, and free agency before the start of training camp and are running out of time.” (See full report)

Coco Gauff talks politics ahead of Dubai quarters

Coco Gauff is making waves on and off the court, weighing in on US politics ahead of today’s Dubai Championships quarterfinal match.

• “Everything going on in the US, obviously I’m not really for it,” she told reporters, addressing recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving federal ICE agents. “I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing. I don’t like what’s going on.”

• The world No. 4 also pushed back against the idea that athletes should avoid political topics, saying “I think the biggest thing I hate is when people say stay out of it. If you ask me, I’m going to give you my honest answer.”

On the court: The 21-year-old is showing a return to form in Dubai, advancing to face rising star Alexandra Eala this morning after getting ousted in the Qatar Open’s Round of 32 earlier this month.

• In her Round of 16 clash with No. 22 Elise Mertens, Gauff was forced to save three match points and overcome 16 double faults to win 2-6, 7-6 (9), 6-3.

• “It wasn’t the best, but I just tried to stay in it, and I did fight for every point,” she said afterwards. “I’m happy I was able to get the result today.” (Watch full highlights)

Tune in: Gauff takes on Eala today at 10 AM ET, live on The Tennis Channel.

US women’s curling hangs in the balance

US women’s curling has eyes on the prize, with Team USA tied for third on a 5-3 round-robin record ahead of this weekend’s Olympic medal rounds.

• Led by mixed doubles silver medalist Cory Thiesse, the US entered this morning’s win-and-in matchup against Switzerland coming off a stinging 8-7 loss to Great Britain.

• “That one hurt a little more,” captain Tabitha Peterson said postgame. “I think maybe I just attacked wrong on my second-to-last shot, and then I just didn’t make my last one either. That’s unfortunate, but they made a fantastic shot, so not much you could do about that.” (Watch full highlights)

High stakes: The Olympic curling competition wraps its 10-team round-robin stage today — with just the top four finishers advancing to Friday’s semifinals.

• Mixed doubles champion Sweden already qualified for the knockout rounds in first place, followed by Switzerland.

• Team USA is in a third-place deadlock with Canada and South Korea, needing either a win over Switzerland or a Great Britain loss to Italy to book a semifinal ticket. (See full scenarios)

Tune in: Women’s curling medal rounds start Friday at 8:05 AM ET, live on Peacock.

Quote of the day

Olympic freeskier Eileen Gu
when asked if she thinks of her 2026 medal count as two silvers won or two golds lost.