Montana attorney Katie Verderber has been selected to represent Team USA in Wheelchair Mixed Curling at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The announcement was made Monday, Nov. 24, by USA Curling, the national governing body for Olympic and Paralympic curling in the United States.
Verderber will join teammates Matthew Thums of Wisconsin, Oyuna Uranchimeg of Minnesota, Sean O’Neill of Massachusetts, and Dan Rose of Wisconsin. This will mark her first Paralympic appearance.
An attorney at Silverman Law Office, Verderber grew up in Valier, Montana, and has a distinguished record of service. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Montana Western and her law degree from Syracuse University College of Law before commissioning as a Judge Advocate General officer in the U.S. Army. She provided legal counsel on military justice and national security issues and deployed to Afghanistan in 2019.
Her military career was cut short due to injuries that led to medical retirement. During her recovery, Verderber discovered adaptive sports and wheelchair curling, which reignited her competitive drive and ultimately led to her representing the United States on the international stage.
“If anything comes from this, I want to share the message that you can still achieve whatever dreams you may have despite illness or disability,” Verderber said.
After returning to Montana, Verderber served as a civil litigator for the Montana Department of Justice before joining Silverman Law Office, where she focuses on business, contract, real estate, and probate litigation. The firm has offices in Helena, Bozeman, Butte, and Big Timber.
“We are incredibly proud of Katie,” said Silverman Law Office CEO Joel Silverman. “Her work ethic, character, and determination are evident in everything she does, both in the courtroom and on the ice.”
Verderber’s selection highlights her remarkable journey from military service to legal practice to elite adaptive athletics, inspiring others to pursue their goals regardless of obstacles.
By DNU Staff