2026 Winter Olympics live updates: Women's hockey kicks off; Team USA curling defeats Norway, Switzerland

Following her Olympic debut in 2022, figure skater Alysa Liu retired at just 16 years old. She spent time with friends and fell in love with skiing, but she realized she could not stay away from the rink.

If you’re looking to strike gold — silver or bronze, too — look to Ailsa Craig.

This uninhabited isle 10 miles off the coast of southwest Scotland is the source of the super-dense granite used to make curling stones for the Winter Olympics.

Jim English, co-owner of Kays Curling, took a few seconds to evaluate a boulder during a recent visit. He assessed it for big cracks and large specks on the surface.

“It’s not just a case of landing a boat and then looking for granite. There’s a particular type of granite we’re looking for,” he said in the shadow of a 19th century lighthouse that is no longer manned. “We look for ones that have got really tight surface pattern.”

Read the full story here.

Thanks to five points in the first end, Canada was able to ride the early lead to a 7-2 win over Italy, the defending Olympic gold medalists in mixed doubles curling.

Men's snowboarding had its qualifying tonight, and only 12 advance to Saturday's final. Unfortunately for the U.S., only Ollie Martin got through. He finished in ninth place overall, with a total score of 167.50.

Red Gerard, who took gold in 2018 in slopestyle snowboarding, took 20th and did not make the cut.

The finals start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

In speedskating, tenths of a second can determine whether an athlete wins gold or misses out on medals entirely.

To hunt for those slivers of a second, the U.S. Olympic speedskating team has put traditional analytics on ice and turned to a new tool powered by artificial intelligence to simulate skaters’ complex aerodynamics.

The new app, called Slippery Fish and custom designed for the team, is one of an emerging suite of AI-powered tools U.S. Olympic teams use to improve athletes’ performances ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games opening Friday.

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U.S. women’s hockey player Hayley Scamurra scored two goals in the team’s win over Czechia. Her first goal put the U.S. up 3-0 and her second capped off the 5-1 victory for the Americans.

Charone Gray-Edwards, Laila Edwards’ mom, cheered on her daughter during today’s women’s ice hockey game — and she made it to Milan through a donation from Travis Kelce.

Laila Edwards, center, the first Black woman to suit up for Team USA women's Olympic hockey, with her parents, Charone Gray-Edwards, left, and Robert Edwards, right, in her childhood home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, in 2025. Sue Ogrocki / AP file

Laila Edwards, an Ohio native, started a GoFundMe to get her family to Italy for her Olympic debut, and one large donation brought her family to the Milan Cortina Games.

“So we have a mutual friend of [the Kelce brothers], and he called me and he said, ‘Hey, did you get a large donation?’ And I said, ‘We did, anonymous.’ And he said, ‘Well, that was Travis,’” Gray-Edwards told NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk.

Today, in a red, white and blue hat that her daughter will easily be able to find in the crowd, Gray-Edwards watched her daughter step out onto the ice as the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey.

“I’m ecstatic, I’m overwhelmed, I’m excited for her, and I’m really proud,” Gray-Edwards said.

While Gray-Edwards is celebrating her daughter’s historic journey to the Olympics, she doesn’t want people to lose sight of Laila’s skill.

“She’s an awesome hockey player, so I don’t want people to forget that part. But yes, it is a milestone. It’s an accomplishment that she’s the first Black woman, and we’re excited about that,” Gray-Edwards said.

In response to an NBC News inquiry into norovirus concerns at the Milan Cortina Games, the International Olympic Committee said they work closely with the Organizing Committee and other National Olympic Committees for operational support with regional health authorities.

A woman's hockey game between Finland and Canada was postponed due to an outbreak among Finland's players.

"It is unfortunately often the case that if large groups of people come together, there is a possibility that some of them will fall sick," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"The Organizing Committee and the IOC have plans and procedures in place to detect and manage any such cases when they arise," they added.

Get an exclusive first look at the sights and sounds to come at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Kristen Santos-Griswold and Corinne Stoddard couldn’t bring their dogs with them to Milan, so they did the next best thing — decorating their Olympic village room with about 20 AI images of the pets participating in Olympic sports.

Santos-Griswold and Stoddard, the U.S.’ best short track speedskaters, could each win multiple medals — which would be the first for the U.S. women’s short track team since 2010.

They operate a joint Instagram account called Fast but Unstable. The name is in part a nod to the unpredictable nature of their sport. 

River Schwaller, the son of Switzerland mixed doubles curlers Yannick Schwaller and Briar Schwaller-Hürlimann, showed off his broom skills after his parents’ win over Estonia on the first day of competition in Cortina.

A composite of multiple photographs shows freestyle skier Mac Forehand practicing a switch triple cork 1980 mute while jumping onto an airbag at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah on July 17.  Spenser Heaps for NBC News

For Big Air skiers, the difference between medaling at the Winter Olympics and not hinges on one trick.

Nail an aerial move more cleanly and more complicated than your competition, and you’re likely to be headed to the podium. Play it safe or crash, and those dreams will be dashed.

Mac Forehand knows better than anyone else. In the 2022 Beijing Games, he finished 11th in freeski big air overall, behind his American teammates Colby Stevenson and Alex Hall. And it’s why, on a hot and sunny July afternoon six months before the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, he was at the top of a giant ramp preparing to perfect a trick that could land him gold.

Read the full story here.

Team captain Hilary Knight powered to the net and beat Czechia’s goalie to score her first goal of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Knight’s goal was assisted by Alex Carpenter and Hannah Bilka.

A dominant effort from the States in their first game of the Olympics. Team USA had five times as many goals as Czechia, and three times as many shots (42 to 14).

U.S. women’s hockey player Joy Dunne scored her first goal in the first Olympic game of her career. The goal, assisted by Tessa Janecke, gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead over Czechia.

The States extend their lead early in the third period. Hayley Scamurra just knocked in her second goal of the game, this time off an assist from Kelly Pannek. It’s now 5-1 USA. Cezchia has only 10 shots on goal.

U.S. women’s hockey forward Alex Carpenter scored the first goal against Czechia in the team’s first game of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Carpenter was assisted by Laila Edwards and Megan Keller.

Team USA is up 4-1 after a sweet goal by captain Hilary Knight. Off a pass from Alex Carpenter, Knight went streaking up the right side of the ice, fended off a defender and then flicked a goal into the top of the net.

Hilary Knight scores a goal past Klara Peslarova of Czechia today. Maja Hitij / Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is chatting with Tilman Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino, during the women’s hockey game against Czechia. Fertitta, who is also the owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, has held the post since May 2025.

Some other notable people who are in attendance (and some of whom have been chatting with Rubio and Vice President JD Vance) include:

Ice hockey players Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux- Morando, speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno and figure skater Evan Lysacek.

Perfect execution by Cezchia there. As Barbora Jurickova came out of the penalty box, Natalie Mlynkova hit her with a perfect pass. Jurickova had a breakaway and fired in Czechia’s first goal to cut the lead to 3-1.

That was quick!

Seconds after Joy Dunne gave the States a 2-0 lead, Hayley Scamurra scored to make the lead 3-0. Tessa Janecke picked up another assist as well. This has quickly turned into a rout, as Czechia only has one more shot than Team USA has goals.

Only moments after a Czechia shot went off the crossbar, the U.S. has grown its lead. Joy Dunne scored off an assist from Tessa Janecke to put the States up 2-0.

Joy Dunne celebrates scoring a goal against Czechia. Maja Hitij / Getty Images

A U-S-A chant just broke out for the first time today, with just under 16 minutes remaining in the second period. The U.S. leads 2-0 and is dominating in terms of shots: 17 to 4.

The Italian women easily beat France, 4-1, in the teams' opening game of the tournament, giving the host country a flying start to the Milan Cortina Olympics.

France led 1-0 in the first period before Italy answered with four goals, including scoring two within four minutes in the third period to break the game open.

The vice president and secretary of state arrived a few minutes into the women's hockey game, sitting just to the right of center ice.

It's been a dominant effort from Team USA against Czechia so far. The U.S. leads 1-0 and has a 14-3 advantage in shots.

Snoop Dogg didn’t just carry the torch in Milan: The Team USA honorary coach was also filmed enjoying one of Italy’s most traditional pastimes: playing bocce in a classic Milanese setting.

Few places are as iconic as the Balera dell’Ortica, a family‑run venue that mixes restaurant, dance hall and bowling alley. Walking in feels like stepping into a time capsule, with classic oldies music, folk concerts, dinners and celebrations happening year‑round.

Snoop clearly picked up the vibe. Filmed playing bocce and dancing behind the ball, he wore full Team USA gear, entertaining viewers and genuinely looking like he was having a great time.

The States take advantage of a first-period power play to take the lead. Megan Keller one-timed a slap shot from the blue line that dribbled into the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

Watch three-time U.S. figure skating champion Amber Glenn in practice ahead of the team event.

The puck is about to drop at the start of the first U.S. women's hockey game of this tournament. The U.S. faces Czechia in both teams' opener of the preliminary round.

For star Hilary Knight, this marks her fifth and final Olympics representing the United States.

The U.S. beat Switzerland 7-4 in curling mixed doubles.

It's the second win of the day for the U.S. pair Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, who won an earlier match against Norway, 8-6.

The duo won the 2023 world title in this event, but finished fifth at the most recent world championships last May.

The women’s tournament consists of 10 teams split into two groups. The five highest-ranked teams, which include the United States and Canada, are all in Group A and will automatically advance to the quarterfinals.

The top three finishers from Group B at the end of round-robin play will also advance to the quarterfinals. 

Laila Edwards of the U.S. skates with the puck against Czechia today in Milan. Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Lindsey Vonn shared a video today of her rigorous training routine as she recovers from a crash last week that could jeopardize her chances of competing in Cortina.

“I’m not giving up,” she wrote in a post on Instagram, next to a video showing her doing weight training and lunges, among other drills. “Working as hard as I can to make it happen!” she added.

On Tuesday, Vonn, 41, announced that she was still planning to race in Cortina despite rupturing her left ACL and sustaining other injuries. Her first scheduled event is the downhill, which takes place on Sunday. 

The women’s hockey competition at the Olympics has an influence you might not have expected.

Ohio State.

Perhaps you know the Buckeyes best as a football powerhouse. Yet since Nadine Muzerall became coach in 2016, the university has developed into a consistent force atop collegiate women’s hockey, as well, winning NCAA championships in 2022 and 2024 and playing in the 2023 and 2025 championship games. This season, they are ranked second nationally.

Twelve current or former Ohio State players are playing in this tournament for five different countries, including three for Sweden alone. 

The U.S. mixed doubles curling team opened play in the Milan Cortina Olympics with a victory over Norway on Day 2 of competition.

Sweden scored four unanswered goals to beat Germany, 4-1, in the opening game of the preliminary round at Milan Rho Ice Hockey Arena. It's the first of three games today at the arena, with host nation Italy playing France next.

Thea Johansson is the latest to score for Sweden, making it 4-1 late in the third period against Germany. The Swedes have taken twice as many shots.

Thea Johansson of Team Sweden celebrates scoring a goal today. Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Fans in the arena have been fairly subdued, but an in-house DJ has made a steady stream of dance hits the day’s soundtrack.

Rasmus Wrana had 11 takeouts to carry Sweden to a 7-4 win over Czechia on Day 2 of mixed doubles curling action.

Today’s women’s hockey game between Finland and Canada is postponed over a norovirus outbreak with Team Finland.

“The decision was taken following consultations with medical professionals after cases of norovirus were identified within Team Finland,” the Milan Cortina organizing committee announced in a statement.

“It was made collectively and in accordance with established health and safety principles, with the health and wellbeing of players, team staff, officials and all tournament participants as the highest priority,” the statement said.

A Finnish Ice Hockey Association spokesperson told The Associated Press the team has 13 players either infected or in quarantine.

The game was rescheduled for Feb. 12 at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.

In their first game of their home Olympics, Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner defeated South Korea as they vie for a second gold medal.

At the end of the second period in women’s hockey, Sweden leads Germany 3–1 thanks to its one-sided attacking advantage. Sweden has 26 shots to Germany’s nine. In the second period alone, Sweden took more shots (12) than Germany had all game.

Nearly halfway through the second period, Lina Ljungblom has scored her second goal to give Sweden a 2-1 lead over Germany.

This is the first Olympics since the creation of the Professional Women's Hockey League, and many of the players representing their countries here play in the PWHL, Ljungblom included. Seven players from Germany and Sweden also play in the PWHL.

In the first period of the first women's hockey game during these Olympics' qualifying round, Germany scored first and Sweden later matched, leaving the score 1-1 here in the second period.

The arena is about three-quarters full for this noon puck drop.

Sweden's Lina Ljungblom scores the equalizing goal against Germany at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena today. Sun Wei / AFP via Getty Images

Filippo Bosi, a captain in the Italian police's major crimes unit, described protecting the local community as a “beautiful challenge.”

“We have the opportunity to deal with many different countries and many different law enforcement agencies. For us, it’s a big opportunity to grow up and to understand how different countries work in a really important situation like that. ... It’s also a great opportunity to deal with fans of more than 90 countries that are represented here.”

Bosi told NBC News that there are more than 3,000 cameras directly linked to law enforcement throughout the city to ensure everything goes smoothly over the next month.

“We have an advantage to understand in real time how is the situation,” Bosi said. “We can guarantee the best safety and security for all the fans and all the athletes that we have here in these days.”

The first event of today took place in Cortina, where some round-robin play in mixed doubles curling took place. Here are the results...

Great Britain beat Estonia 10-5.

Sweden defeated Czechia 7-4.

The United States won against Norway 8-6.

And Olympic host Italy secured an 8-4 victory over Korea.

Women's ice hockey is taking place 40-minutes outside of Milan's city center at a venue that was built for these Games only.

I'm inside Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, where Sweden and Germany are about five minutes from playing the first game of the Olympics. The game will be played inside what is essentially a giant convention center, with about 18 rows of temporary stands tucked under a low roof in one corner of a massive building.

This building is one of 20 that makes up a massive complex that hosts major trade fairs. And, for the next few weeks, some of the best hockey in the world.

Team USA’s Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin made the most of their final end hammer to take their mixed doubles curling match against Norway’s Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten.

But the most dominant display of the session came from Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner who beat South Korea’s Kim Seonyeong and Jeong Yeongseok 8-4. 

Elsewhere Isabella and Rasmus Wrana triumphed over the pair from the Czech Republic’s Julie Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky, who opted to shake hands with the match at 7-4.

And after Britain scored four stones to take the score to 10-5 in end seven, Estonia’s Marie Kaldvee and Lill Harri also called an end to their match and shook hands.

The vice president and his family arrived in Milan this morning ahead of tomorrow’s opening ceremony. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be part of the U.S. delegation at the opening ceremony.

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance, with their sons Ewan and Vivek, in Milan this morning. Kevin Lamarque / AP

The mixed doubles is underway and there appears to be full power in the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, which suffered a cut yesterday morning as matches got underway.

Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin of Team USA during the curling mixed doubles round-robin against Norway today. Odd Andersen / AFP via Getty Images

Team USA is taking on Norway, home team Italy is taking on South Korea, Norway and its Scandinavian neighbor Sweden are taking on the Czech Republic.

Britain and Estonia are on the fourth sheet.

Lindsey Vonn. Millo Moravski / Agence Zoom / Getty Images

Lindsey Vonn is expected to compete in three events: the downhill (Sunday), the team combined (Tuesday) and the super-G (Feb 12). Yesterday, Vonn said that her “intention is to race everything” but that she would have to see how her knee held up after she takes some training runs, which begin tomorrow: “I’ll go as long and as far as I can take it.”

Vonn has won three Olympic medals in her career (one gold, two bronze). At the 2010 Vancouver Games, she won gold in the downhill and bronze in the super-G. She also won a downhill bronze at the 2018 PyeongChang Games (her last Olympic appearance).

Vonn made her Olympic debut at age 17, 24 years ago, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She is making her fifth Olympic appearance in Milan Cortina (2002, 2006, 2010, 2018). 

In addition to curling, we have women’s hockey (including the first game for the U.S.) and men’s snowboarding happening today.

Here’s the full schedule (all times Eastern):

• 4:05 a.m.: Mixed doubles curling round-robin (Great Britain-Estonia, Sweden-Czechia, Norway-USA, South Korea-Italy)
• 6:10 a.m.: Women’s hockey pool play (Sweden-Germany)
• 8:35 a.m.: Mixed doubles curling round-robin (USA-Switzerland, Norway-Canada)
• 8:40 a.m.: Women’s hockey pool play (Italy-France)
• 10:40 a.m.: Women’s hockey pool play (USA-Czechia)
• 1:05 p.m.: Mixed doubles curling round-robin (Canada-Italy, Switzerland-South Korea, Estonia-Sweden, Czechia-Great Britain)
• 1:30 p.m.: Snowboarding: Men’s big air qualifying
• 3:10 p.m.: Women’s hockey pool play (Finland-Canada)