THUNDER BAY, Ont. - The crescendo of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts 2025 culminates with defending champion Rachel Homan poised to defend her title after defeating Manitoba's Kerri Einarson 8-4, securing her spot in Sunday's final.
When Rachel Homan is on her game, no stone is safe. Leading her team of third Tracy Fleury, second Emma Miskew, and lead Sarah Wilkes from the Ottawa Curling Club, Homan showcased remarkable precision, leaving her opponent Kerri Einarson frustrated with scant opportunities to recover. Having previously won the national tournament, Homan is not just gunning for another title; she aims to defend her world championship crown earned last year.
The victory places Homan one step away from repeating as Canadian women's curling champions and going undefeated again - something no team has achieved.
“We want to wear the Maple Leaf in a couple of weeks,” Homan declared after the match, expressing her unwavering commitment to their current goal.
On the flip side, Einarson was forced to regroup after her semifinal match against Nova Scotia’s Christina Black. Despite Einarson’s reputation, Black’s team pushed her to the limit, resulting in Einarson’s narrowly claimed 9-8 victory. Black stated, “We didn’t quit the whole game... It’s the way it is. You can play a good game and lose.” The match pitted Einarson’s experience—she skipped teams to victory four consecutive years against newcomer Black, who led her team to its first semifinal appearance as skip.
Einarson carved her way through the tournament to earn another shot at the final, leveraging her strong past performances, but not before overcoming the fierce competition. The tapered competition unveiled Einarson’s defensive strategy intermingled with flawless transitions, forcing Black’s team to compensate at every turn.
The semifinals didn’t just spotlight intense strategy and competition, but also the emotional side of the sport, as Black's team managed to rally after the loss of teammate Jennifer Baxter’s father shortly before the match. Despite this difficult news, Black remained focused, stating, “I just tried to stay mindful and present and know I get to go curling. I’m so proud of us for pulling through.”
With their hearts heavy yet resolute, Nova Scotia's team faced the defending champion and former national superstar with steely determination. Although Black's team fell short, they secured enough points to likely qualify for the next Scotties, thereby achieving one of their core season goals.
The emotional rollercoaster continued with Einarson’s final shot, which tightened the tension for spectators as the team had led 7-4 at one point. Due to Einarson's last throw running straighter than anticipated, the victory required a measurement to accurately declare the winning stone. Einarson reflected on the game, noting the well-earned struggles and triumphs her team faced during their playoff trek.
“It’s about making the right moves with confidence,” Einarson said. “When we knew we needed to execute perfectly, we did.”
Moving forward, Homan and Einarson will clash at 7 PM ET tonight, with Homan’s squad riding high on confidence and Einarson entering with determination to reclaim her title against the odds. Einarson knows their history: she holds 17 wins to Homan’s 29 lifetime victories over the past seven years, placing her team at adversity.
“Definitely have to come out sharper for the final,” Einarson mused, aware of the stakes at hand. With the past tally and pressure looming over their heads, it's more than just another game; it’s about legacy.
The championship match will not only determine this year’s champion, but also shape the teams heading to Uijeongbu, South Korea, for the world championships next month.
Live scoring, standings, statistics, and complete coverage will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 as curling fans await the final chapter of this year's intense curl-off, the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.