Canada Curling Team Secures Silver at World Women’s Championship
CALGARY – Kerri Einarson’s Canadian curling team claimed the silver medal at the World Women’s Championship, concluding with a hard-fought 7-5 loss to Switzerland on Sunday. The final, held at Calgary’s WinSport Event Centre, saw Xenia Schwaller’s young Swiss team prevail, securing their first world title.
Einarson’s foursome, representing Manitoba’s Gimli Curling Club, aimed for their inaugural world championship victory. However, Schwaller’s team from Zurich demonstrated remarkable skill and composure throughout the tournament, culminating in a gold medal performance.
A Tightly Contested Final
Canada trailed 6-5 entering the 10th end, desperately needing a steal or to force an extra end. Unfortunately, they couldn’t capitalize. Schwaller’s precise runback double hit with her first throw significantly diminished Canada’s chances. A light draw attempt by Einarson sealed the victory for Switzerland, allowing them to celebrate before Schwaller even had to throw her last stone.
The Swiss team, boasting an average age of just 22.5, had already proven their mettle by defeating four-time world champion Silvana Tirinzoni twice in a best-of-three final to earn their spot in Calgary. Their journey began with a single loss to Japan, after which they embarked on an impressive 11-game winning streak, topping the 13-country standings.
Tournament Highlights & Rankings
Canada finished second at 10-2, with a couple of extra-end losses, including one to Schwaller. Both Einarson and Schwaller held respectable positions in the World Curling women’s rankings, ranked fifth and sixth respectively.
Throughout the tournament, Canada showcased strong shooting accuracy, with vice Valerie Sweeting and second Shannon Birchard consistently delivering. Karlee Burgess, who joined the team in early 2025, led all leads with an exceptional 93.6% accuracy and was deservedly named to the all-star team.
A Third Consecutive Final for Canada & Switzerland
This marks the third consecutive year that Canada and Switzerland have clashed in the World Women’s Championship final. Canada’s Rachel Homan secured gold against Tirinzoni in both 2025 and 2024. Sweden’s Isabella Wranaa took home the bronze medal, defeating Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa 8-5.
Looking Ahead: Men’s World Championship
The men’s world championship is set to begin this Friday in Ogden, Utah. Matt Dunstone will proudly represent Canada for the first time, following his victory at the Brier earlier this month in St. John’s, N.L. Canada will open their campaign against South Korea on Friday afternoon.
Einarson’s Team’s Future
Einarson secured her fifth Canadian title on February 1st in Mississauga, Ont. This victory guarantees her team a return to the 2027 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Charlottetown as Team Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2026.
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press ©2026 BellMedia All Rights Reserved
