CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — World champions Great Britain nabbed a steal of two in the final end to beat Switzerland 8-5 in a thrilling semifinal clash on Thursday in the men’s curling competition at the Winter Olympics, setting up a final against Canada.

Switzerland appeared to have the upper hand in the early stages, but the decisive moment of the contest came in the seventh end, when a brilliant takeout from Bruce Mouat cleared away four stones and forced the Swiss to relinquish the hammer for just a point.

From then on, Britain did well to restrict its opponents and though Switzerland had the last stone of the game, Benoit Schwarz-van Berkel was not able to get the connection he needed.

For Switzerland, the first men’s team to go unbeaten in their round-robin campaign at the Olympics since Kevin Martin’s Canada in 2010, it was a crushing defeat after what had been an excellent week.

Britain and Switzerland also met in the final of the world championships last year, when Team Mouat took a 5-4 victory.

“We weren’t having our best in the first five ends and then really flipped it around in the last five. So just really proud of us for sticking together, supporting each other and believing in each other,” Mouat said.

CANADA BEATS NORWAY IN IMMEDIATE REMATCH

Two sheets over, Canada’s Brad Jacobs, who won gold at the 2014 Games in Sochi, navigated his team through a defensive battle to prevail 5-4 over Norway.

The game went to an extra end after Jacobs’ attempt for a double takeout only got rid of one stone, but when Norway handed over the hammer with their two-pointer, it was easy enough for Canada to inch ahead and get the win.

The two teams had met just hours before in the final round-robin session of the men’s competition, in which Magnus Ramsfjell’s Norwegians were 8-6 victors, though it was not against a full-strength Canada line-up with Ben Hebert rested.

“They were tough all day. Magnus made a ton of great shots, starting in that first game. Those guys were virtually lights out,” Jacobs said.

“They gave us everything we could handle. I was just grateful that we had hammer in that game, and we got off to a good start. We were able to manage the scoreboard, because they were not going away easy.

“They played awesome. Just happy to be able to get through them in that semifinal.”

Britain will meet Canada in the gold medal game on Saturday, while Switzerland and Norway will face off for bronze on Friday.

–Reuters, special to Field Level Media

Stanford has hired longtime NFL assistant Kris Richard as its defensive coordinator under new coach Tavita Pritchard.

Richard, 46, spent 13 seasons as an NFL assistant with the Seattle Seahawks (2010-17), Dallas Cowboys (2018-19), New Orleans Saints (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2024). He served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2015-17 and shared the DC duties in New Orleans in 2022.

“Kris Richard is a proven winner and an exceptional defensive mind who has coached at the highest levels of this game,” Pritchard said in a news release. “His ability to develop elite defensive backs in the NFL is well-documented, but what really excites me is his background as a coordinator who builds relentless, attacking defenses.

“Kris brings a championship pedigree and an intensity that will shape our defense into a physical, run-and-hit unit that our guys will take immense pride in. He is a tremendous communicator who connects with people and demands excellence, and I am confident he will build a defense that reflects the energy and toughness that will embody our team.”

Richard, a cornerback, played in 39 NFL games over four seasons with the Seahawks (2002-04) and San Francisco 49ers (2005). He had eight career college interceptions — six in 1999 — at Southern California from 1998-2001 before being selected in the third round of the NFL draft by Seattle.

“My family, the defensive staff, and I are incredibly grateful to join the Stanford community,” Richard said. “Thank you for welcoming us with open arms. We are all eager to get to work cultivating a championship culture and mindset.”

Richard takes on a big task as the Cardinal were 134th and last nationally in passing yards allowed (288.9) per game and 95th in scoring defense at 29.2 points per game.

Stanford opens the 2026 season at home against Hawaii on Aug. 29.

–Field Level Media

With “Sunday Night Baseball” moving to NBC this season, ESPN revealed Thursday it has elected to fill its premium Sunday slot with WNBA and NWSL games and ancillary coverage.

“Women’s Sports Sundays” will debut in prime time this summer. ESPN said 12 live games and accompanying studio segments will air over nine weeks.

“Sunday Night Baseball” was a staple on ESPN for 36 years, but the network and MLB terminated their agreement three years before it was scheduled to end. NBC has committed to airing “Sunday Night Baseball” through at least 2028.

ESPN, meanwhile, believes it is catching two leagues on the rise.

“Women’s sports are experiencing continued momentum, and ‘Women’s Sports Sundays’ is ESPN’s next step in meeting that demand,” Rosalyn Durant, ESPN’s executive vice president of programming and acquisitions, said in a statement.

“This franchise is about more than showcasing games — it’s about building a consistent, high-profile destination that reflects the passion, excellence and cultural impact of women’s sports today, while giving athletes and leagues the stage they deserve.”

Details about matchups and broadcast personnel will be announced at a later date.

More women’s sports properties, including college basketball, could be added to the Sunday night slate in future seasons, according to Front Office Sports.

The NWSL season starts March 13 and continues into November. The league expanded to 16 teams with the additions of Boston Legacy and Denver Summit.

WNBA training camps are scheduled to open April 19 ahead of tip-off on May 8, but a labor impasse threatens to delay the start of the season. The collective bargaining agreement with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association expired in January and negotiations about revenue sharing and salary structure have barely progressed.

–Field Level Media