Sweden and Norway are likely to continue their cross-country skiing domination in the women’s 4x7.5km relay Saturday at Milan Cortina 2026.

At the Winter Games so far, Sweden and Norway have won seven cross-country skiing medals each. Team USA could contend for a bronze medal along with Finland, Switzerland and Germany.

The Swedes swept the podium in the women’s classic sprint. Two from that podium, Linn Svahn (classic) and Jonna Sundling (free), will ski on the relay team. Svahn had success as the country’s anchor when Sweden won the 2025 world title but this time will lead the first leg of the race. They'll be joined by Frida Karlsson (free), who has won two gold medals at these Games, and Ebba Anderson (classic), who has earned a pair of silver medals.

Norway’s team will be led by Kristin Austgulen Fosnaes (classic), Astrid Oeyre Slind (Classic), Karoline Simpson-Larsen (free), and Heidi Weng (Free). As the bronze medalist in the skiathlon, Weng will prove a solid anchor for their team.

The American relay team will be Julia Kern (classic), Rosie Brennan (classic), Novie McCabe (free), and Jessie Diggins (free). As the anchor, Diggins will likely fight her way to the finish line, just two days after she battled to a bronze medal in the women's 10km free while injured. The Americans have gotten close to the podium before but have underperformed as a relay team so far this season. 

At five of the last six Winter Games, the German relay team has been on the podium. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the podium consisted of the ROC (Russian Olympic Committee), Germany and Sweden.

For Milan Cortina 2026, the distance of the race was increased for gender parity and is expected to last between 75 and 85 minutes. The 18.6 miles of the race will be split, with each team member skiing two laps (7.5km) before tagging the next teammate. The first two skiers will use classic technique, while the final two will use freestyle.