The numbers
In a strong showing at the Women’s World Curling Championship, Canada secured victories over Turkey and Scotland on March 18, 2026, with scores of 9-3 and 7-5, respectively. With these wins, Kerri Einarson’s team now boasts a record of 7-1, tying them for first place with Switzerland.
Despite the team’s success, Val Sweeting’s individual performance has raised some concerns. Her shooting percentage has dropped from an impressive 83% in the first four games to 77.8% in the last four. This decline may impact the team’s overall performance as they aim for their first world title since Rachel Homan’s team won back-to-back championships.
The match against Scotland was particularly competitive, with the teams tied at 5-5 after the sixth end. Shannon Birchard, a member of the Canadian team, commented on the match, saying, “I think we just lost control a little bit in the middle ends there.” She also expressed hope for improvement, stating, “Hopefully we can get a little bit better handle on speed, rocks, everything that’s going on out there.”
Canada’s next games are crucial, as they will face Korea and Norway on March 19, 2026. The team is focused on refining their strategy and execution, especially after the stones were sharpened overnight, which affected gameplay on March 18.
In contrast, China’s Team Wang Rui has shown resilience, improving their record to 4-4 after starting the tournament with a 1-3 record. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Isabella Wrana struggled in the evening draw against Japan, achieving a shooting percentage of only 31%.
As the tournament progresses, the top six teams will advance to the playoffs, and Canada is determined to secure a spot. Kerri Einarson, who is currently dealing with a sprained finger from a celebration after winning the national championship, emphasized the team’s grit, stating, “This team’s gritty. We don’t give up on each other and we just tried to find ways to help each other to make the shots.”
With the competition heating up, observers are keen to see how Canada will perform in their upcoming matches and whether Sweeting can regain her earlier form. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the impact of the recent gameplay adjustments on the team’s strategy.
