Rachel Homan continued her dominance in women’s curling with a commanding 6-1 victory over Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson to secure the Scotties Tournament of Hearts title. Homan’s Ottawa Curling Club team, ranked No. 1 in Canada and the world, achieved back-to-back undefeated championships—an unprecedented feat.
In a low-scoring yet intense final, Homan delivered a flawless 100 per cent shooting accuracy, making history in the process. The turning point came when Einarson surrendered four stolen points between ends seven and nine, sealing Homan’s victory.
“I’m just so proud of my team this week,” Homan said. “Einarson’s team played phenomenal. We needed the 100 per cent to beat them.”
Homan, Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes will now aim to defend their world title in Uijeongbu, South Korea, from March 15-23. The team also secured a spot in the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and claimed a $100,000 prize.
This victory marked the fifth Canadian championship for Homan and Miskew, placing them behind only Jennifer Jones, Jill Officer, and Colleen Jones, who have six. It was the second national title for Fleury and Wilkes.
Over the past 15 years, only three skips—Homan, Einarson, and Jennifer Jones—have successfully defended the title. Einarson previously won four consecutive championships from 2020 to 2023, while Jones dominated from 2008 to 2010. Homan previously won back-to-back in 2013 and 2014.
With Sunday’s victory, Homan also matched her own record of 22 straight wins at the Scotties, set between 2013 and 2015. Playing in front of a sold-out Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, Ont., her team capitalized on Einarson’s misfires, extending their lead with crucial steals in the seventh and eighth ends.
Einarson, reflecting on the match, admitted struggles with the ice conditions. “I definitely want some shots back. We just didn’t pick up on it or believe it,” she said.
Despite Einarson defeating Homan once earlier in the season, she couldn’t reclaim the title after a 9-8 semifinal win over Nova Scotia’s Christina Black earlier Sunday. Homan, who had expressed concerns over the ice conditions, credited her team’s patience and determination for overcoming the challenges.
“We’re just having the best time together,” Homan said. “We want to win every game we’re in.”
With her latest triumph, Homan has already secured a berth at the Olympic trials, while Einarson holds a spot as the top-ranked team behind her. The next trials berth will go to the highest-ranked team not yet qualified after April’s AMJ Players’ Championship in Toronto.
Source: Swifteradio.com
