Rachel Homan and her team from Ottawa have made headlines once again, securing their place in curling history by winning the prestigious 2025 LGT World Women’s Curling Championship. The victory, marked by a resounding 7-3 triumph over Switzerland’s Silvana Tirinzoni on March 23, 2025, in Uijeongbu, South Korea, not only defended their world title but also marked Canada’s 19th global crown in women's curling.
In what can be described as a thrilling rematch, the Canadian team showcased their skill and tenacity against the reigning world champions, who they had previously defeated in the 2024 final. The significance of the win extended beyond the championship; it cemented Homan and her rink-mates—Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes—as the first Canadian women's team to win back-to-back titles since the legendary Sandra Schmirler’s team accomplished the feat in 1994.
“This is unbelievable. It’s the end goal at the end of the year and it seems so far away when you start the season. To get to the final against such an amazing team is just a great achievement,” Homan expressed with palpable excitement during the post-match celebrations.
The final commenced with both teams feeling out the game, resulting in a blank first and second end. However, Canada quickly made their mark by stealing one point in the third end, leading to a back-and-forth exchange that saw Switzerland briefly take the lead. After a solid fifth end, Canada evened the score at 2-2 and took control in the latter half of the match.
“They had control for most of the game, and we just had that turnaround. It’s an unbelievable feeling to be back-to-back world champions,” Homan added after the victory, reflecting on their remarkable comeback from a 3-2 deficit after the sixth end. Canada executed a decisive two-point steal in the eighth, further solidifying their triumph.
The Canadian team finished the championship with an impressive 13-2 record, and notably, they have dominated their matchups against the Swiss rink, boasting a 10-1 record since the start of the 2023-24 curling season. Team Tirinzoni, known for its formidable lineup—including Alina Paetz, Carole Howald, and Selina Witschonke—concluded the event with a commendable 12-2 record, yet could not overcome Homan’s squad in their encounters.
In a notable shared moment, team skip Homan reflected on the team’s synergy, stating, “My team was just throwing it so well, so I know exactly where to put the broom and the girls managed it so well.” The four point differential may have seemed narrow, but Canada’s strong execution of strategy and skill was evident.
Earlier in the championships, China’s Wang Rui secured the bronze medal with a decisive 9-4 victory over Japan’s Gim Eun-ji, highlighting the growing competition in women’s curling on the international stage. This event presented nations with an opportunity to earn Olympic qualification points for the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
The Olympic qualification standings at the tournament showed Canada leading with 30 points, followed by Switzerland with 26, and Korea with 21. As the host for the Games, Italy automatically qualified, while the final two nations to round out the Olympic field will be determined in a last-chance qualifying tournament in December 2025 in Kelowna, B.C.
With three world titles under their belt, this victory marked a significant milestone for both Homan and Miskew, while Fleury and Wilkes also added to their accolades with two world titles each. The alternate, Rachelle Brown, also celebrated her second global honor with this victory.
Reflecting on their achievement, Homan remarked on the historic implications, “It’s just an unbelievable feeling to be back-to-back world champions.” With their eyes set on the upcoming Olympic trials in Halifax this November, the focus remains sharp on the goal of representing Canada at the Winter Games.
As fans of curling will agree, this championship has reignited the excitement surrounding Canadian curling, proving once again that Team Homan is a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
