Italian Women’s Curling Team 2026: A Rising Force in Milano Cortina
Monday marked a significant day for Rachel Homan and Team Canada, securing two crucial victories to keep their playoff hopes alive at the Milano Cortina 2026 curling competition. Following a 10-5 win against China, breaking a three-game losing streak, they continued their momentum with a 9-6 victory over Japan’s Sayaka Yoshimura.
These wins elevate Canada’s record to 3-3, setting the stage for a challenging match against the undefeated Anna Hasselborg of Sweden on Tuesday. Canada will then face Italy (1-5) on Wednesday and Korea (4-2) on Thursday to complete the round robin stage.
Resilience and Precision: The Keys to Canada’s Turnaround
“It’s huge,” Homan stated, emphasizing the importance of the back-to-back wins. “We’re making a lot of big shots as a team and trying to be as precise as we can. Obviously, it feels good but still lots of work to do.”
Third Tracy Fleury attributed the team’s resurgence to their resilience. “I think just resiliency,” she explained. “Our team has been in challenging situations before, so it’s just come out and be precise.”
A Tough Road Ahead: Facing Sweden and Beyond
The upcoming match against Sweden is anticipated to be a formidable challenge. “Tough day tomorrow,” Fleury acknowledged. “They’re all tough games; Sweden is playing very well. But I think we’re trending and we’re playing well too, so it should be a good battle.”
Homan’s Versatility and the Power of Sweeping
Rachel Homan, known for her powerful shots, demonstrated her all-around skill on Monday. Her draw accuracy was particularly impressive, achieving an 89% success rate compared to Yoshimura’s 65%. This difference in draw weight proved pivotal in Canada’s win over Japan.
The late ends saw sweeping become a critical factor. Japan refused to concede even when trailing 8-4, forcing Homan to execute a precise draw in the tenth end. Exceptional sweeping by Emma Miskew and Sarah Wilkes ensured the victory, dragging Homan’s final stone to the button.
Early Struggles and a Strong Recovery
The match began with both teams struggling to adapt to the ice conditions. Japan took an early lead with a deuce, capitalizing on missed shots from Canada. However, Canada quickly responded with two points of their own in the second end and seized control with three in the third. The game remained competitive until the ninth end, culminating in a thrilling finish.
Other Results from February 16th
In other matches, Italy secured their first win, defeating the United States 7-2, much to the delight of the home crowd. Korea beat China 10-9, and Switzerland defeated Great Britain 10-6.
Current Standings
With four draws remaining, the standings are as follows: Sweden (6-0), United States, Korea, and Switzerland (4-2), Canada and Denmark (3-3), China and Great Britain (2-4), and Japan and Italy (1-5).
The Italian women’s curling team 2026 faces an uphill battle, but their recent victory provides a boost of confidence as they continue their journey at Milano Cortina. Keep an eye on their progress as they strive to make their mark on the international curling stage.
Source: Team Canada Official Website
