2026-27 NATIONAL PROGRAM TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Photo by: Jaylen Marlow
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, June 24, 2026] — USA Curling is pleased to announce the National Program Teams for the 2026-27 season, marking the beginning of a new Olympic quadrennial leading to the 2030 Winter Olympic Games in France.
Designed to provide athletes with the resources, structure, and support needed for sustained international success, the program enters a new phase under the leadership of High Performance Director Brad Gushue. The refreshed approach emphasizes athlete-centered development, consistent performance improvement, and a culture of accountability.
In this upcoming season, USA Curling will provide support to five Women’s teams, the Junior Women’s National Team, three Men’s teams, the Junior Men’s National Team, and three Mixed Doubles teams.
“We are confident in the talent and potential of these teams, and look forward to a successful season,” Gushue said. “With the 2026 Games behind us, the first year of this quad also presents a critical opportunity to try new approaches and generate fresh momentum. We are investing in the women’s talent pipeline, introducing a new national coaching structure, and establishing elite-level protocols.”
“Our plan has always been to reset and strengthen the program following the 2026 Games, and bringing Brad on board was a key step in that process,” said USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell. “His leadership will help our athletes grow across every dimension—technical, tactical, physical, and mental—while fostering a high-performance culture that will sustain success throughout the quad.”
In addition to direct team support, USA Curling will invest in training and talent identification camps, fitness resources, advanced performance analytics, and new technologies designed to elevate preparation and improve competitive outcomes.
“At the moment, our financial resources simply do not match the countries we compete against,” Gemmell added. “We are working to change that, but it means we have to make difficult choices. Careful thought goes into every spending decision.”
The 2026-27 Wheelchair Curling Team will be announced following a National Selection Camp, scheduled for late August at Rock Creek Curling in Colorado.
Men’s Teams
Team Casper: Danny Casper, Luc Violette, Ben Richardson, Aidan Oldenburg
Team Shuster: John Shuster, Andrew Stopera, Mark Fenner, Lance Wheeler
Team Tuma: Kevin Tuma, Sam Strouse, Coleman Thurston, Connor Kauffman
mixed doubles Teams
Team Bear/Oldenburg: Madison Bear, Aidan Oldenburg
Team Hamilton/Hamilton: Becca Hamilton, Matt Hamilton
Team Thiesse/Dropkin: Cory Thiesse, Korey Dropkin
Women’s teams
Team Cousins: Elizabeth Cousins, Annmarie Dubberstein, Allison Howell, Liz Janiak
Team Hagenbuch: Bella Hagenbuch, Addison Neill, Megan Stopera, Morgan Zacher
Team Johnson: Allory Johnson, Gianna Johnson, Ella Wendling, Bailey Vaydich
Team McMakin: Christine McMakin, Sara Olson, Tessa Thurlow, Abby Lin
Team O’Hara: Anne O’hara, Anya Normandeau, Sydney Mullaney, Ella Fleming
Junior Women’s National Team (2027 World Representatives)
Team Pekowitz: Julia Pekowitz, Kalina Petrova, Lila Farwell, Alexa Pekowitz, Addison Neill
Junior Men’s National Team (2027 World Representatives)
Team Hebert: Caden Hebert, Jackson Bestland, Benji Paral, Jack Wendtland, Daniel Laufer
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
