Canada’s Team Rachel Homan is on the cusp of curling glory after securing a place in the gold medal game of the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship. Their semifinal match against South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim on March 22, 2025, at Uijeongbu Arena was a nail-biter that went down to an extra end, with Canada prevailing 6-5.
The Canadian squad stepped onto the ice knowing the stakes were high, as they aimed to defend their title from the previous year. After battling through 11 intense ends and witnessing multiple momentum swings, Homan and her teammates demonstrated resilience, finishing the match with a vital last-minute effort. In the extra end, Team Homan, with vice-skip Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, lead Sarah Wilkes, and alternate Rachelle Brown, seized the opportunity when South Korean skip Eunji Gim overcurled her final double takeout attempt, leaving the door open for Canada to claim victory.
In anticipation of the gold-medal bout set for March 23, 2025, at 3 a.m. ET, Rachel Homan expressed her pride in the team's performance. "We left it all out there and I’m just so proud of the girls. We’re in another final, and it’s great for Canada," she said. "I can’t wait to stress out our family members, as I’m sure they’re going to watch from end one, so it’s not going to be fun watching. But they’ll be super pumped when they wake up!"
A thrilling climax unfolded in the ninth end when Canada, trailing by one, had to establish a two-point strategy. After a slip from Team Gim allowed Canada to regain footing, they forced the game into an extra end. Demonstrating strategic precision, Homan's rink shot 91 percent throughout the game, a remarkable feat against the formidable South Korean team.
The match itself was alive with competitive spirit, as both teams exchanged leads. South Korea opened with the hammer but blanked the first end. Canada took a strong position in the second end by stacking stones and forcing an early defensive style from their competitors. However, it wasn’t without its challenges—Canada faced its own hiccups, missing a chance for a scoring opportunity in the third, which kept the scoreboard tight.
The other semifinal saw Switzerland's Team Silvana Tirinzoni narrowly defeat China's Team Rui Wang 4-2, setting the stage for a much-anticipated rematch against Canada, who dominated in their previous clash during the round-robin. Tirinzoni's squad boasts a stellar record of 11 wins against just one loss, with their only defeat coming from a hard-fought extra end against Team Homan earlier in the championship.
As both Canadian and Swiss teams head for the gold final, the stakes could not be higher. Historical context surrounds this match, as Canada seeks to become the first team since Sandra Schmirler’s team in 1993 and 1994 to win back-to-back world championship titles.
Meanwhile, South Korea, unable to advance to the finals, will play against China in the bronze medal match, which will also take place on March 22, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET. This match is significant for both teams as they all vie for international recognition and pride in their respective curling communities.
In the push for medals, Canada’s Homan has remained steady and focused, reflected in her team’s performance. "It didn’t look great the whole time. We knew we had to battle, but we stuck with it and kept trying to make the next one," Homan stated after the semifinal match, emphasizing the grit and determination of her squad.
As Team Homan prepares for what promises to be an exhilarating final against Tirinzoni's well-oiled Swiss unit, the playoff weekend is full of excitement and anticipation for curling fans worldwide. With a final destination in sight, Homan’s team stands ready to leave it all on the ice once more in hopes of cementing their legacy in curling history.
