Rachel Homan and Anna Hasselborg, two curling powerhouses, are gearing up for an epic showdown in the KIOTI National Women’s Final. This will be their 28th meeting on the ice, dating back to their junior days over a decade ago. Both teams enter the final with flawless 6-0 records, setting the stage for an intense battle on Sunday at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s, N.L.
While Homan may seem to have had a smooth journey to the final based on her win-loss record, Saturday’s games were anything but easy. Homan and her team faced tough competition, going the distance in both playoff matches. In the quarterfinals, Homan had to steal in the extra end to secure a 7-6 victory over Japan’s Team Sayaka Yoshimura. The semifinals saw another nail-biting finish as Homan drew to the back of the four-foot circle to clinch a 7-6 win against South Korea’s Team Eun-jung Kim.
With an impressive 39-2 record this season, including a remarkable 13 consecutive wins in the Grand Slam of Curling series, Team Homan is in top form. The reigning world champion recently dominated the Co-op Canadian Open, adding a 15th Grand Slam women’s title to her collection. In contrast, Hasselborg’s team has been focusing on training, opting out of some events to prepare for competitions like the European Championships.
Hasselborg’s path to the final was also challenging, as she needed overtime to secure a 7-6 victory against Canada’s Team Christina Black in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she displayed her prowess with a commanding 7-1 win over Canada’s Team Kerri Einarson. This final will mark Hasselborg’s return to the Grand Slam final since her victory at the 2022 Players’ Championship.
On the men’s side, Scotland’s Team Bruce Mouat is eyeing a third consecutive Grand Slam title, having advanced to the final for the third time in a row. With a 5-1 record, Mouat is determined to continue his winning streak. His opponent, Canada’s Team Brad Jacobs, secured a spot in the final with impressive victories over top teams.
The women’s final is set to kick off Championship Sunday, followed by the men’s final later in the day. Fans can catch all the action live on Sportsnet channels, with streaming available on HomeTeam. Stay tuned for an exciting day of curling as these top teams battle it out on the ice for the prestigious KIOTI National titles.