UIJEONGBU, SOUTH KOREA — Canada’s Team Rachel Homan faced both highs and lows on the opening day of the 2025 LGT World Women’s Curling Championship. Kicking off their campaign at Uijeongbu Arena, the Canadian squad first dominated Lithuania's Virginija Paulauskaite with a decisive 13-2 victory, but then struggled to maintain momentum, eventually falling to Scotland's Team Sophie Jackson with an 8-7 scoreline.
After their resounding win against Lithuania, Homan and her team faced Scotland, hoping to continue their success. The game against Scotland was pivotal; the Canadians managed to take the lead during various points but were haunted by tactical errors at the match's conclusion. Scotland capitalized on these errors, particularly making effective use of their final opportunities. Leading by two points entering the 10th end, Homan’s team attempted to eliminate a Scottish rock but miscalculated their shot execution. This led to Scotland’s skip, Rebecca Morrison, making a perfect nose hit for three points, sealing Canada's defeat.
"We made a lot of shots, but not enough for one of our worst performances. We can’t give up a three in 10," Homan stated after the match, expressing her disappointment with the team's final execution. Her assessment reflected the challenging conditions on the ice, which were described as quite tricky. Despite the loss, Homan remains determined to improve, recognizing the need to focus on their performance moving forward.
On the other hand, Jackson, the skip for Scotland, was thrilled with their performance, marking it as momentous for her team. “It’s brilliant. We’re absolutely thrilled to get our first win,” she remarked after the match, highlighting their practice efforts to prepare for high-pressure situations. “We’ve practised being two down in the 10th end a lot, so it’s great to see that's paid off,” Jackson noted, emphasizing her team’s resilience and preparedness.
The competition presented additional excitement on the opening day, with other teams also making headlines. Sweden’s Team Anna Hasselborg delivered a dominating performance against Turkey's Dilsat Yildiz, winning 8-1 and remaining unbeaten with two wins. Switzerland's Team Silvana Tirinzoni also had its moment, stealing the last point from Team Tabitha Peterson of the United States. Meanwhile, Denmark seized the excitement with Team Madeleine Dupont edging Italy’s Stefania Constantini 8-7 after extra ends.
Canada will need to shift focus quickly, as they are set to face Hasselborg’s formidable Swedish team next, scheduled for March 16 at 1:00 AM ET. The matchup is poised to be highly anticipated, especially considering Homan’s status as the defending champion after her team’s triumph at the previous year’s championship held in Sydney, N.S.
Heading forward, the Canadian team recognizes the need for adjustments and quick learning. Homan and her players are gearing up for the challenge, as each game presents new opportunities for growth. “We had the hammer but found ourselves in some trouble,” Homan shared, reflecting on the strategic missteps they encountered during their match against Scotland.
With the round-robin format, the pressure is on all teams as they vie for positions leading to the playoffs. The stakes are high, and every match counts, making the importance of consistency and performance even more pronounced. For fans and followers, Curling Canada will provide participation updates and match coverage, encouraging audiences to rally behind Team Canada as they progress through the tournament.
For additional information, updates, and to follow Team Canada’s championship endeavors, visit www.curling.ca. Live coverage of all Canadian round-robin and playoff games will be aired through TSN, Curling Canada’s Season of Champions broadcast partner.
Stay tuned as the world watches which teams rise to the challenge and hope to become champions on the world stage.