Rachel Homan, Canada's skip, directs her teammates while sweeping during a qualification match against Scotland at the World Women's Curling Championship in Uijeongbu, South Korea, on Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Rachel Homan and her Canadian team secured a convincing 10-4 victory over Scotland’s Sophie Jackson on Saturday, earning their place in the semifinals of the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship. Canada will now take on South Korea’s Eunji Gim for a spot in the finals, while China and Switzerland battle in the other semifinal matchup.
Despite finishing tied for second in the tournament standings, Homan’s team missed out on a direct semifinal bye due to their earlier 11-7 loss to South Korea in round-robin play. This sets up a high-stakes rematch, marking the second consecutive year these two teams meet in the semifinals.
Homan remains unfazed about the challenge ahead. “It doesn’t matter who we play next. Every team in the playoffs is tough,” she said. “We just have to focus on our game and keep up our momentum.”
A Commanding Victory Over Scotland
Homan’s Ottawa-based rink had a strong response to their earlier 8-7 loss to Scotland in the tournament’s opening weekend. This time, they dominated from the start, scoring four points in the second end for a commanding 4-0 lead. By the fourth end, they extended their advantage to 7-1 with another three-point haul.
"We had a great setup early on," Homan explained. "We saw an opportunity for three, maybe four, and we executed well. It was a key moment that gave us momentum, and we stayed in control the entire game."
Scotland tried to mount a comeback, scoring two points in the fifth end, but Canada quickly responded, adding three more points across the next two ends to stretch the lead to 10-3. With little chance of recovery, Jackson’s rink conceded the match after scoring a single point in the eighth end.
What’s Next for Team Canada?
With this dominant performance, Homan’s team is in top form heading into the semifinal against South Korea. The loss to Gim’s squad earlier in the tournament will no doubt be on their minds, but with a spot in the final on the line, Canada is determined to turn the tables this time around.
Meanwhile, Switzerland, the tournament’s top team, will take on China, which narrowly defeated Sweden 8-7 in the other qualification match. If Homan’s team advances, they could face another tough battle for the championship title.
