Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the silver medal in ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron won gold, a decision that stirred controversy.
A breakdown of the scores shows the French judge gave the largest point differential in favor of the French team.
Chock and Bates said they were proud of their performance and felt they couldn’t have skated any better.

MILAN — The biggest question in figure skating right now: How did Madison Chock and Evan Bates not win ice dance gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics? 

The married duo were the favorites entering these Games, but had to settle for silver with the French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron winning gold. The decision stirred sharp reaction from American fans and fellow U.S. figure skaters on social media and elsewhere. The enduring sentiment is that Chock and Bates performed a flawless free dance strong enough to lock up gold.

Beaudry and Cizeron, who carried a 0.46-point lead entering the night, had a good but not as sharp skate. However, they ended up with a better score: a 135.64 to Chock and Bates’ 134.67 – a victory margin of 1.43 points.

How did it happen? Here’s how the judges’ scores for both teams broke down and what they reveal.

Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock

How is ice dance scored in figure skating? Free dance scores, explained

Let’s start with how free dances are scored.

The program comprises two scores: a technical score and a component score. The technical score is made up of how each skater executes their spins, jumps and step sequences. They are graded on a level from one to four, with four being the highest.

The component score values the composition, presentation, and skating skills of the program, such as the choreography and how it connects with the music.

The aim of the free dance program is to pull off ‘an entertaining, moving and inspiring performance that looks effortless despite its difficulty. Innovative choreography, timing and rhythm are paramount,’ according to U.S. Figure Skating.

Chock and Bates finished with a 76.75 technical elements score and a 57.92 program components score. Comparatively, Beaudry and Cizeron had a technical elements score of 77.06 and a program components score of 58.58.

What were free dance judges’ scores?

There were nine judges total for the free dance. Chock and Bates earned top scores from five judges, while Beaudry and Cizeron had top scores from four judges. But let’s take a closer look at each judge’s score to understand more.

Czech judge Richard Kosina awarded Beaudry and Cizeron the highest score of the bunch, a 138.49, and scored Chock and Bates at 135.23. The biggest gap, however, came from French judge Jezabel Dabouis, who gave Beaudry and Cizeron a 137.45 and gave Chock and Bates a 129.74 – a 7.71 point difference. That 129.74 is also the lowest score for Chock and Bates of any of the nine judges.

Additionally, Spanish judge Marta Olozagarre scored Beaudry and Cizeron at a 137.03, and Chock and Bates at 132.75, which put them in third in her standings behind Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who went on to win bronze.

U.S. judge Janis Engel awarded Chock and Bates their highest score, a 137.67, and gave Beaudry and Cizeron a 133.57, their third-lowest score of the bunch.

Judge-by-judge score breakdown:

Beaudry and Cizeron: 137.45 (Judge 1, France), 134.19 (Judge 2, Georgia), 137.03 (Judge 3, Spain), 130.94 (Judge 4 Finland),133.57 (Judge 5, USA), 136.49 (Judge 6, Canada), 134.40 (Judge 7, Italy), 133.26 (Judge 8, China), 138.49 (Judge 9, Czechia), 135.64, (Total segment score)
Chock and Bates: 129.74 (Judge 1, France), 134.88 (Judge 2, Georgia), 132.75 (Judge 3, Spain), 130.97 (Judge 4 Finland), 137.97 (Judge 5, USA), 135.47 (Judge 6, Canada), 135.75 (Judge 7, Italy), 136.95 (Judge 8, China), 135.23 (Judge 9, Czechia), 134.67 (Total segment score)

What were technical elements for Chock and Bates, Beaudry and Cizeron?

Here were the technical elements and scores for Chock and Bates.

Choreographic assisted jump and lifting movement: 4.89
Curve lift: 15.29
Synchronized twizzles: 9.54
Choreographic character step sequence: 5.13
One foot turn sequence: 8.90
Rotation lift: 7.78
Dance spin: 8.25
Diagonal step sequence: 12.08
Choreographic sliding movement: 4.89

Here were the technical elements and scores for Beaudry and Cizeron.

Synchronized twizzles: 8.44
One foot turn sequence: 9.48
Rotational lift: 7.71
Dance spin: 8.41
Curve lift: 15.70
Serpentine step sequence: 11.93
Choreographic assisted jump and lifting movement: 5.01
Choreographic character step sequence: 5.25
Choreographic dance lift: 5.13

Madison Chock, Evan Bates reaction to judges’ scores

In figure skating, judges don’t have to elaborate on their decisions, but fans and figure skaters of past and present are trying to understand how this decision came to be.

Chock and Bates felt like they gave a ‘gold medal performance’ and were emotional after the medal ceremony, calling it a ‘bittersweet’ result. In the news conference for the medalists, the skaters were asked if the judges’ scores accurately reflected their performance.

‘We put out our very best skates every time we took Olympic ice,’ Chock said. ‘All four performances we had here at the Olympics, we’re very proud of. They were flawless for us. We couldn’t have skated any better, and we’re super proud with how we took the ice, how we handled ourselves every time. The rest is out of our hands.’

The silver was the first ice dance Olympic medal for Chock and Bates in what is their fourth and likely last Winter Olympics. They are two-time gold medalists in the team event, most recently here in Milan.

MILAN — USA forward Brock Nelson has a long family history of Olympic success with relatives on two USA gold-medal teams.

Nelson put his own imprint on the 2026 USA team with two second-period goals in a 5-1 rout of Latvia.

He was involved in some bad luck in the first period on two disallowed goals. He was offsides on a Quinn Hughes goal and his deflection goal didn’t count because of J.T. Miller’s goaltender interference.

But there was no doubt on Nelson’s second period goal that put the USA ahead 2-1. He pointed to the net as if to say, “That counts.”

There also was no doubt on the fourth, a beautiful tic-tac-toe play.

‘He’s just such a good hockey player,’ coach Mike Sullivan said of Nelson. ‘He’s got a mature game. He plays on both sides of the puck. He can score goals. He’s a cerebral player. He’s conscientious defensively. You can use him on the penalty kill. If we needed him on a power play, we could use him on a power play.’

Nelson is the nephew of 1980 winner Dave Christian. His grandfather Bill and great-uncle Roger won gold in 1960.

Family was big in the USA’s opening win. Matthew Tkachuk fed brother Brady for the opening goal and brothers Quinn and Jack Hughes combined for four assists.

Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews also scored for the USA, which faces Denmark on Saturday, Feb. 14.

In other preliminary action on Thursday, Switzerland shut out France 4-0, Canada blanked Czechia 5-0 and Germany beat Denmark 3-1.

USA TODAY provided live updates from the USA vs. Latvia game. Here are highlights:

Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock

Final score: USA 5, Latvia 1

The United States outshoots Latvia 48-18 to win its Olympic opener. Denmark is next up on Saturday.

Latvia power play

Brady Tkachuk, Brock Faber and a Latvian player go off for cross-checking. USA kills it off.

5 minutes left

5-1 USA.

Latvia power play

Dylan Larkin is called for slashing. USA kills it off.

USA goal: Auston Matthews scores on power play

Jack Eichel finds Auston Matthews out front for a power play goal. USA 5, Latvia 1

USA power play

Kaspars Daugavins is called for tripping.

Third period underway

4-1 USA.

Latvia goalie change

Arturs Silovs is in net to start the third period.

Brock Nelson Olympic family history

Brock Nelson has two goals in the game for the USA. His uncle Dave Christian won gold with the 1980 team. Bill Christian, his grandfather, won gold in 1960.

‘I felt a lot of emotions coming out there,’ he said about becoming an Olympian. ‘Super special. Lots of family to share with, too. Just awesome.’

End of second period: USA 4, Latvia 1

The Americans could finally celebrate a second goal midway through the second period: This time, there was nothing to challenge. Vincent Trocheck found Jack Hughes with a pass behind the net, Hughes found Brock Nelson in the low slot, and he maneuvered the puck past Elvis Merzlikins and into the net. Merzlikins had a busy period trying to give his teammates a chance as the Americans took command, swarming around with the puck. Brady Tkachuk delivered a big hip check and made a nuisance of himself around the crease.

The U.S. moved further ahead on a power play with 2:25 to play in the period. Tage Thompson took a pass from Jack Eichel by the net, pivoted and got the puck on his backhand to make it 3-1. There was 11.1 seconds on the clock when the Americans made it 4-1 on a tic-tac-toe goal by Nelson.

USA goal: Brock Nelson scores again

Big tic-tac-toe passing display there before Jack Hughes feeds Brock Nelson for his second goal of the game. USA 4, Latvia 1

USA goal: Tage Thompson scores on power play

Tage Thompson is known for his stickhandling and he shows why on this goal with his move before scoring on a backhander. USA 3, Latvia 1

USA power play

Roberts Mamcics is called for cross-checking.

USA pressing

Elvis Merzlikins stops Matt Boldy in close and the USA continues to press. It eventually leads to a Latvia penalty.

USA goal: Brock Nelson gives USA lead

Brock Nelson takes a pass from Jack Hughes, fakes a shot and beats Elvis Merzlikins with a backhander at 10:38 of the second period. No challenges on this one. Nelson was offsides on the first disallowed goal and had scored another disallowed goal. But this one counts. USA 2, Latvia 1

Latvia power play

USA’s Jake Guentzel is called for hooking 40 seconds into the second period. Draft-eligible Alberts Smits was out there. USA kills it off.

Second period underway

1-1. U-S-A chants start.

Brady Tkachuk on the disallowed goals

USA goal scorer Brady Tkachuk talked to NBC in the first intermission about the turn of events in the first period that included two overturned goals.

‘You just have to embrace everything that comes your way, good or bad,’ he said. ‘I think we’re going to learn so much about ourselves, the adversity and all that, the individual maturity that we all have.’

End of first period: USA 1, Latvia 1

The atmosphere was great, with chants of “Lat-via” and “U-S-A” setting the tone at Santaguilia Arena, but it was a challenging first period for the Americans.

They came out with speed and immediately attacked Elvis Merzlikins. Dylan Larkin missed an open net early on, but Brady Tkachuk made it 1-0 at 5:29. The Americans celebrated again a couple minutes later when Quinn Hughes put the puck in Latvia’s net, but Latvia challenged and video review showed the play was offside. Instead Latvia gained momentum off a goal from Renars Krastenbergs at 7:24. Latvia challenged goaltender interference when Brock Nelson deflected in a shot from the point at 11:35 and again were successful. The U.S. had a 15-9 edge in shots.

USA power play

Renars Krastenbergs is called for holding. Latvia kills it off. USA gets two shots.

Another USA goal is overturned

Brock Nelson, who was offsides on Latvia’s first successful goal challenge, has a great deflection in front. But Latvia challenges and a review determines that J.T. Miller interfered with goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Still 1-1.

Auston Matthews injury update

USA captain Auston Matthews appeared to be in pain on the bench, but he has returned to the ice.

Latvia goal: Latvia ties it up

Big turn of events. After the USA goal is overturned, Renars Krastenbergs ties the game for Latvia. USA 1, Latvia 1

USA goal overturned

Quinn Hughes scored, but Latvia challenged for offsides and wins the challenge. Still 1-0 USA.

USA goal: Tkachuk brothers connect

Matthew Tkachuk makes a nice pass to brother Brady, who rips a shot past Elvis Merzlikins. Zach Werenski gets the second assist. USA 1, Latvia 0

USA chance

Dylan Larkin gets a rebound of a Zach Werenski shot, but the puck slides through the crease.

Game underway

Connor Hellebuyck vs. Elvis Merzlikins in net. Auston Matthews line out first.

Where to watch USA men’s hockey vs. Latvia

USA Network is broadcasting the game, and Peacock is streaming it live.

What time is USA men’s hockey vs. Latvia today?

Puck drop is at 3:10 p.m. ET.

Goaltending matchup

USA’s Connor Hellebuyck vs. Latvia’s Elvis Merzlikins.

USA lines vs. Latvia

Latvia lines vs. USA

When is the Olympic men’s hockey tournament?

The tournament started Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opens play Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.

Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.

The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.

How long is NHL Olympic break?

The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.

Why are there no fights in Olympic hockey?

International Ice Hockey Federation prohibits fighting, and it could lead to an ejection and a suspension.

‘Fighting is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA,’ the organization states in Rule 46 of the IIHF rulebook.

‘Players who willingly, participate in a ‘brawl/fight’ so-called ‘willing combatants,’ shall be penalized accordingly by the referee(s) and may be ejected from the game,’ the rulebook says. ‘Further supplementary discipline may be imposed.’

USA men’s hockey roster for 2026 Olympics

Forwards: Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay) Lightning, Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Clayton Keller (Utah Mammoth), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings), J.T. Miller (New York Rangers), Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche), Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers), Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers)
Defensemen: Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights), Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild), Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks), Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators), Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)

Olympic hockey games today

All times Eastern.

Men’s preliminary games:

Switzerland 4, France 0
Canada 5, Czechia 0
USA 5, Latvia
Germany 3, Denmark 1

Women’s preliminary games:

Canada 5, Finland 0

How the Olympics men’s hockey tournament works

The 12 teams are divided into three groups. They are:

Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C: USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark

Teams play one game each against the other three teams in their group. Countries get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime/shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.

After the preliminary round is complete, teams are seeded 1 through 12 under the following criteria:

Higher position in the group
Higher number of points
Better goal difference
Higher number of goals scored for 
Better IIHF world ranking

The top four teams get a bye to quarterfinal. Teams 5-12 play in a qualifying round, with the winners going to the quarterfinals.

Valentine’s Day came early for Team USA’s Alpine skier Breezy Johnson at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Following competing in the women’s super-G on Thursday, Feb. 12, the U.S. skier was proposed to by her boyfriend of almost 2½ years, Connor Watkins, at the bottom of the hill at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo surrounded by teammates and family.

It was an engagement roughly a year in the making for the Olympian and Watkins, who moved in together during the summer of 2024.

‘I had told him that I always dreamed of getting proposed to at the Olympics, so I had an inkling,’ Johnson said.

In addition to receiving an engagement ring, Johnson picked up her first Olympic medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, as she took home gold in the women’s downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8. She didn’t finish in Thursday’s super-G after crashing.

But who is Johnson’s fiancé? Here’s what to know on Watkins:

Who is Breezy Johnson engaged to?

Breezy Johnson is now engaged to Connor Watkins, her boyfriend of almost 2½ years. As noted by USA TODAY Sports’ Nancy Armour, Watkins originally hails from Georgia and works in the construction industry.

Watkins gave Johnson a note with lyrics from Taylor Swift’s ‘The Alchemy,’ a song Johnson said is fitting for their relationship, and he was also wearing a knitted hat that the gold medalist made for him. Johnson is known to be an avid knitter and knits a new headband/hat for every event that she competes in.

Talk about making the proposal fully sentimental.

How did Breezy Johnson meet her fiancé?

The two are a success story of the dating app, Bumble.

However, when Johnson and Watkins first met, Watkins had no clue who the two-time Olympian was until he asked her what she did for a living during their first date.

‘I was a little taken aback. I had very little knowledge of ski racing and everything else,’ Watkins said on Thursday. ‘Over the past couple years, I’ve really grown to love it.’

Did Breezy Johnson’s fiancé play at Villanova?

No, Johnson’s fiancé did not play at Villanova. That is a different Connor Watkins.

USA TODAY Sports’ Nancy Armour contributed to this story

MILAN — USA forward Brock Nelson has a long family history of Olympic success with relatives on two USA gold-medal teams.

Nelson put his own imprint on the 2026 USA team with two second-period goals in a 5-1 rout of Latvia.

He was involved in some bad luck in the first period on two disallowed goals. He was offsides on a Quinn Hughes goal and his deflection goal didn’t count because of J.T. Miller’s goaltender interference.

But there was no doubt on Nelson’s second period goal that put the USA ahead 2-1. He pointed to the net as if to say, “That counts.”

There was no doubt on the fourth, a beautiful tic-tac-toe play.

Nelson is the nephew of 1980 winner Dave Christian. His grandfather Bill and great-uncle Roger won gold in 1960.

Family was big in the USA’s opening win. Matthew Tkachuk fed brother Brady for the opening goal and brothers Quinn and Jack Hughes combined for four assists.

Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews also scored for the USA, which faces Denmark on Saturday, Feb. 14.

In other preliminary action on Thursday, Switzerland shut out France 4-0, Canada blanked Czechia 5-0 and Germany beat Denmark 3-1.

USA TODAY provided live updates from the USA vs. Latvia game. Here are highlights:

Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock

Final score: USA 5, Latvia 1

The United States outshoots Latvia 48-18 to win its Olympic opener. Denmark is next up on Saturday.

Latvia power play

Brady Tkachuk, Brock Faber and a Latvian player go off for cross-checking. USA kills it off.

5 minutes left

5-1 USA.

Latvia power play

Dylan Larkin is called for slashing. USA kills it off.

USA goal: Auston Matthews scores on power play

Jack Eichel finds Auston Matthews out front for a power play goal. USA 5, Latvia 1

USA power play

Kaspars Daugavins is called for tripping.

Third period underway

4-1 USA.

Latvia goalie change

Arturs Silovs is in net to start the third period.

Brock Nelson Olympic family history

Brock Nelson has two goals in the game for the USA. His uncle Dave Christian won gold with the 1980 team. Bill Christian, his grandfather, won gold in 1960.

‘I felt a lot of emotions coming out there,’ he said about becoming an Olympian. ‘Super special. Lots of family to share with, too. Just awesome.’

End of second period: USA 4, Latvia 1

The Americans could finally celebrate a second goal midway through the second period: This time, there was nothing to challenge. Vincent Trocheck found Jack Hughes with a pass behind the net, Hughes found Brock Nelson in the low slot, and he maneuvered the puck past Elvis Merzlikins and into the net. Merzlikins had a busy period trying to give his teammates a chance as the Americans took command, swarming around with the puck. Brady Tkachuk delivered a big hip check and made a nuisance of himself around the crease.

The U.S. moved further ahead on a power play with 2:25 to play in the period. Tage Thompson took a pass from Jack Eichel by the net, pivoted and got the puck on his backhand to make it 3-1. There was 11.1 seconds on the clock when the Americans made it 4-1 on a tic-tac-toe goal by Nelson.

USA goal: Brock Nelson scores again

Big tic-tac-toe passing display there before Jack Hughes feeds Brock Nelson for his second goal of the game. USA 4, Latvia 1

USA goal: Tage Thompson scores on power play

Tage Thompson is known for his stickhandling and he shows why on this goal with his move before scoring on a backhander. USA 3, Latvia 1

USA power play

Roberts Mamcics is called for cross-checking.

USA pressing

Elvis Merzlikins stops Matt Boldy in close and the USA continues to press. It eventually leads to a Latvia penalty.

USA goal: Brock Nelson gives USA lead

Brock Nelson takes a pass from Jack Hughes, fakes a shot and beats Elvis Merzlikins with a backhander at 10:38 of the second period. No challenges on this one. Nelson was offsides on the first disallowed goal and had scored another disallowed goal. But this one counts. USA 2, Latvia 1

Latvia power play

USA’s Jake Guentzel is called for hooking 40 seconds into the second period. Draft-eligible Alberts Smits was out there. USA kills it off.

Second period underway

1-1. U-S-A chants start.

Brady Tkachuk on the disallowed goals

USA goal scorer Brady Tkachuk talked to NBC in the first intermission about the turn of events in the first period that included two overturned goals.

‘You just have to embrace everything that comes your way, good or bad,’ he said. ‘I think we’re going to learn so much about ourselves, the adversity and all that, the individual maturity that we all have.’

End of first period: USA 1, Latvia 1

The atmosphere was great, with chants of “Lat-via” and “U-S-A” setting the tone at Santaguilia Arena, but it was a challenging first period for the Americans.

They came out with speed and immediately attacked Elvis Merzlikins. Dylan Larkin missed an open net early on, but Brady Tkachuk made it 1-0 at 5:29. The Americans celebrated again a couple minutes later when Quinn Hughes put the puck in Latvia’s net, but Latvia challenged and video review showed the play was offside. Instead Latvia gained momentum off a goal from Renars Krastenbergs at 7:24. Latvia challenged goaltender interference when Brock Nelson deflected in a shot from the point at 11:35 and again were successful. The U.S. had a 15-9 edge in shots.

USA power play

Renars Krastenbergs is called for holding. Latvia kills it off. USA gets two shots.

Another USA goal is overturned

Brock Nelson, who was offsides on Latvia’s first successful goal challenge, has a great deflection in front. But Latvia challenges and a review determines that J.T. Miller interfered with goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Still 1-1.

Auston Matthews injury update

USA captain Auston Matthews appeared to be in pain on the bench, but he has returned to the ice.

Latvia goal: Latvia ties it up

Big turn of events. After the USA goal is overturned, Renars Krastenbergs ties the game for Latvia. USA 1, Latvia 1

USA goal overturned

Quinn Hughes scored, but Latvia challenged for offsides and wins the challenge. Still 1-0 USA.

USA goal: Tkachuk brothers connect

Matthew Tkachuk makes a nice pass to brother Brady, who rips a shot past Elvis Merzlikins. Zach Werenski gets the second assist. USA 1, Latvia 0

USA chance

Dylan Larkin gets a rebound of a Zach Werenski shot, but the puck slides through the crease.

Game underway

Connor Hellebuyck vs. Elvis Merzlikins in net. Auston Matthews line out first.

Where to watch USA men’s hockey vs. Latvia

USA Network is broadcasting the game, and Peacock is streaming it live.

What time is USA men’s hockey vs. Latvia today?

Puck drop is at 3:10 p.m. ET.

Goaltending matchup

USA’s Connor Hellebuyck vs. Latvia’s Elvis Merzlikins.

USA lines vs. Latvia

Latvia lines vs. USA

When is the Olympic men’s hockey tournament?

The tournament started Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opens play Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.

Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.

The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.

How long is NHL Olympic break?

The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.

Why are there no fights in Olympic hockey?

International Ice Hockey Federation prohibits fighting, and it could lead to an ejection and a suspension.

‘Fighting is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA,’ the organization states in Rule 46 of the IIHF rulebook.

‘Players who willingly, participate in a ‘brawl/fight’ so-called ‘willing combatants,’ shall be penalized accordingly by the referee(s) and may be ejected from the game,’ the rulebook says. ‘Further supplementary discipline may be imposed.’

USA men’s hockey roster for 2026 Olympics

Forwards: Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay) Lightning, Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Clayton Keller (Utah Mammoth), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings), J.T. Miller (New York Rangers), Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche), Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers), Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers)
Defensemen: Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights), Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild), Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks), Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators), Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)

Olympic hockey games today

All times Eastern.

Men’s preliminary games:

Switzerland 4, France 0
Canada 5, Czechia 0
USA 5, Latvia
Germany 3, Denmark 1

Women’s preliminary games:

Canada 5, Finland 0

How the Olympics men’s hockey tournament works

The 12 teams are divided into three groups. They are:

Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C: USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark

Teams play one game each against the other three teams in their group. Countries get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime/shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.

After the preliminary round is complete, teams are seeded 1 through 12 under the following criteria:

Higher position in the group
Higher number of points
Better goal difference
Higher number of goals scored for 
Better IIHF world ranking

The top four teams get a bye to quarterfinal. Teams 5-12 play in a qualifying round, with the winners going to the quarterfinals.

LIVIGNO, Italy – Making history didn’t come easy.

Little more than a month ago, it wasn’t clear if Team USA snowboarding star Chloe Kim would even be able to compete in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics after dislocating her shoulder in training.

But she made it, and when she did, she still finished on the podium.

The 25-year-old Kim landed a score of 88 on her first run before crashing on the next two. It was good enough for silver. Korea’s Gaon Choi won gold after scoring a 90.25 on her final run. Japan’s Mitsuki Ono bronze with an 85.

Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock

“I love Gaon so much. I’ve known her since she was a very small child,’ Kim said. ‘Seeing her at this big stage is such a full-circle moment. I definitely feel old, but it’s really cool to see how much she’s progressed. I met her when she literally started halfpipe snowboarding. Sometimes it feels like I’m seeing a mirror reflection of myself and my family.

“Her dad is so on top of it, her mum is also so supportive. It’s really so cool to see another Korean girl out here killing it. We’re seeing a big shift to Asians being dominant in snow sports. I’ve had aunts telling me that I shouldn’t snowboard, get a real career, focus on school. It’s cool to see that shift happening.”

The concern was real about Kim entering these Olympics, considering how much her injured shoulder had limited her training before she arrived in Livigno.

Kim said prior to the competition she hadn’t started snowboarding again until about two weeks beforehand, and her comments suggested she wasn’t sure what to expect this time.

‘It’s kind of crazy that my first (competition) of the season is the Olympics,’ Kim said on Feb. 9. ‘But we’ll figure it out. … We have a really fun (USA) squad, and I think that will help kind of stay focused and just remind myself why I’m here, which is to have fun.’

Once qualifying arrived on the Feb. 11, however, Kim looked like herself in the halfpipe. With her first run, she scored a 90.25 to finish first in the qualifying by nearly three points.

Afterward, she stressed how happy she was just to be here after the doubts of the injury.

But she also said that she hadn’t thrown her best stuff in that qualifying run, hinting as what was to come in the finals.

Kim is one of the most famous U.S. athletes in these Olympics, boasting more than a million Instagram followers and a Hollywood film credit. She’s an international celebrity. A fashion mogul.

And now, a THREE-time Olympic medalist.

Jeremy Sochan is leaving one NBA championship contender for another, hopeful he can provide a boost to his new team’s postseason push

Sochan is expected to join the New York Knicks upon clearing waivers, according to multiple reports on Thursday, Feb. 12, after the San Antonio Spurs agreed to a contract buyout and parted ways with the No. 9 pick from the 2022 NBA Draft. The Spurs had been trying to trade him before the league’s trade deadline last week.

Sochan had an expiring $7.1 million contract with San Antonio, but sought a bigger role after seeing his playing time drop significantly this season.

“We were all very aware of his desire to be in the rotation and given more of an opportunity, especially recently,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters, according to the San Antonio Express News. “We wanted to do right by him and make sure he had that opportunity before the year was over.”

Sochan, 22, is averaging a career-low 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1 assist per game this season, but logged more than 11 points and 6 rebounds per contest the previous two years with San Antonio.

Thanks to last night’s pole qualifying, we know who will start on the front row for the 68th annual Daytona 500. Two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will lead the field for Sunday’s 500-mile race from Daytona International Speedway.

Alongside Busch’s Richard Childress Motorsports Chevrolet will be Chase Briscoe in the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Briscoe missed out by less than two-hundredths of a second to Busch for pole position.

How the rest of the grid shakes out will be decided tonight with the Duels at Daytona. Duel 1, led by Busch, will be a 60-lap race to decide the starting order for the inside lane on Sunday’s race. It’ll feature the odd-numbered finishers from pole qualifying.

Later on, Briscoe will lead Duel 2 – comprised of the even-numbered finishers from pole qualifying – in another 60-lap race to decide the starting order for the outside lane of Sunday’s race.

On a track like Daytona, anything can happen. Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for the latest news and updates from the Duels at Daytona:

How to watch the Duels at Daytona: Time, TV channel, live stream

Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
Duel 1 Time: 7 p.m. ET
Duel 2 Time: 8:45 p.m. ET (approximate)
TV: FS1 (both duel races)
Streaming: Fubo, FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app

Watch the 2026 Daytona Duels with Fubo

What are the Duels at Daytona? What to know about unique qualifying

For the biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500 uses a unique qualifying format. Things start off with the usual time-based format last night for pole qualifying. From there, everything changes.

The Duels at Daytona use two 60-lap races to set the grid. Duel 1, led by the pole winner from pole qualifying, features the odd-numbered finishers from qualifying. The finishing order from Duel 1 will determine the inside lane order for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Duel 2, led by the second-fastest driver in pole qualifying, includes the even-numbered finishers from the qualifying session. This race’s finishing order determines the outside lane order for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

What time do the Duels at Daytona start?

Following an electric night at Daytona 500 qualifying, the Duels at Daytona will get started on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The Duel 2 race will kick off roughly at 8:45 p.m. ET.

Daytona 500 final qualifying round results

Wednesday night’s Daytona 500 final qualifying round results:

Kyle Busch (49.006)
Chase Briscoe (49.023)
Ryan Preece (49.061)
Denny Hamlin (49.100)
Corey Heim (49.148)
Alex Bowman (49.152)
Kyle Larson (49.158)
Chris Buescher (49.184)
Chase Elliott (49.220)
Joey Logano (49.275)

Daytona 500 odds

Ryan Blaney (+1200)
Joey Logano (+1200)
William Byron (+1400)
Denny Hamlin (+1400)
Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch at +1600

Justin Allgaier qualifies for Daytona 500 as open driver

Justin Allgaier locked in a spot for the 2026 Daytona 500 after finishing the first round of qualifying with a time of 49.201. He also bumped Corey LaJoie out of the top 10.

Allgaier was also bumped out of the top 10 moments later after Joey Logano (49.138) jumped into the top 10. Regardless of his placement at the end of the round, Allgaier secured a spot in the Daytona 500 as one of the two fastest non-chartered drivers along with Corey Heim.

Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors early in the 2026 NFL offseason.

The five-time Pro Bowler is doing his best to avoid feeding into them, as he explained on a Feb. 10 edition of Jim Gray’s ‘Let’s Go!’ podcast.

‘My focus has been on getting healthy because that’s all I can control right now,’ Crosby said when asked what he wanted amid the rumors. ‘That’s all that matters to me is being with my daughters and being with my wife and taking care of myself.’

‘People are gonna have rumors,’ Crosby added. ‘I just looked at my phone – I’ve been working all morning. Everyone’s hitting me up, ‘Did you say this?’ I can’t control that. You earn that as a player. If I wasn’t doing the right things and if I wasn’t the person and player I was, people wouldn’t be talking about all the nonsense. But that’s what comes with it. If you have drama, if you have a losing season, they just try to throw gasoline on the fire and make things a certain way.’

Crosby has been the subject of trade rumors since the end of the 2025 NFL season. He left the Raiders facility after being shut down for the final two games of the regular season, expressing discontent with the decision as Las Vegas jostled for the 2026 NFL Draft’s No. 1 pick.

‘I don’t give a (expletive) about the pick, I don’t play for that,’ Crosby said after the decision in December. ‘That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that’s what I focus on every day.’

More recently, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Feb. 4 that Crosby was done with the Raiders while ESPN’s Adam Schefter further outlined in a Feb. 9 appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ that ‘there’s a feeling around the league that Maxx Crosby would like to be traded.’

Crosby has made it clear he is paying no mind to the rumors as he begins preparations for his eighth NFL season.

‘For me, I know what I’m about. I know what I represent,’ he told Gray. ‘I really don’t care what everybody has to say. I used to a lot as a young guy. I really don’t give a damn. People can have their own opinions. I know what’s going on. I know my truth. And I don’t need to sit here and keep rehashing it to people that don’t know what’s going on. So, I don’t even waste time with it.’

That said, Crosby also acknowledged one of his main goals is to win. He has endured five losing seasons across his first seven years with the Raiders, including a 3-14 campaign in 2025.

‘I have a lot of goals, but I do wanna win,’ Crosby said. ‘That’s all that matters ultimately, but I wanna be in a place mentally where I’m 100% myself. I just wanna focus on football. That’s truly what I want.’

‘People that know me know I’m about the work and football,’ he added. ‘I just wanna play football and be left the (expletive) alone. Period. And people that don’t understand that, don’t (expletive) know me.’