In a thrilling turn of events at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Team USA clinched the gold medal in a nail-biting 2-1 overtime victory against Team Canada. Unfortunately for Canada, they were without their star, Sidney Crosby, who was sidelined due to a lower-body injury.
Meanwhile, over at LECOM Park, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes was among those glued to the action. The NL Cy Young award winner, who’s gearing up to pitch for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, shared his excitement about the Olympic triumph.
“It’s pretty cool,” Skenes remarked, capturing the spirit of the moment. “It’s what we’re walking into.” The anticipation is palpable as Skenes and his teammates prepare to kick off their WBC campaign on March 6 in Houston against Brazil.
Reflecting on his inspirations, the 23-year-old mentioned, “I watched the movie ‘Miracle,’ and I’ve watched the Olympics and the 2017 WBC when Team USA won. I’ve also had the chance to play for Team USA a couple of times.
We haven’t won the gold yet. It’s not a good feeling to go to another country and lose to them.
We’re looking to change that.”
Skenes emphasized the honor of wearing the red, white, and blue, describing it as “bigger than all of us.” His journey with Team USA begins soon, as he departs Pittsburgh’s Spring Training on March 1 to head to Arizona. There, he’ll train with the national squad, gearing up for their WBC opener.
As the Pirates prepare to launch their 2026 season against the New York Mets on March 26, Skenes is focused on the international stage, ready to bring his A-game and help lead Team USA to victory.