CALGARY – SPORTS – Team Rachel Homan seems to be unstoppable! The Ottawa-based squad has etched its name into curling history, becoming the first women’s team to claim the PointsBet Invitational crown not once, but twice! Coming off a stellar 2023-2024 season, Homan’s team wasted no time continuing their domination on Sunday morning with a commanding 8-3 victory over Calgary’s Team Kayla Skrlik.
Homan, with her dream team of Tracy Fleury (vice-skip), Emma Miskew (second), Sarah Wilkes (lead), alternate Rachel Brown, and coach Brendan Bottcher, came out firing, leaving no room for doubt. The final showdown in Calgary’s WinSport Event Centre saw the top-seeded squad claim a clean four-straight wins en route to the title and a cool $50,000 payout.
“We’re easing into the season with a solid win, and it feels great,” Homan said after the win. It’s a familiar position for the reigning Women’s World Champions, who lifted the PointsBet trophy last year with a hard-fought 9-7 win over Team Kerri Einarson. “This event has been awesome for us, and I’m proud of how the team played!”
Skrlik Fights Hard, but Homan’s Precision Prevails
Team Homan controlled the scoreboard from the jump, posting three singles in the early ends. Skrlik had opportunities to shift momentum, including a tough angle-runback in the second, but it resulted in a steal of one for Homan.
By the fourth end, Skrlik’s squad found a spark, securing a deuce to narrow the gap to 3-2, but that was as close as they’d get. As pressure mounted, Skrlik faced tough shots, including two key tapback attempts in the seventh end that just didn’t connect. That miss handed Homan a massive three-point steal, sealing the game.
“A bit unlucky on those taps,” Homan admitted. “One shot can change everything, and that was the game’s turning point.”
Despite the tough loss, Skrlik acknowledged the strength of her opponents, saying, “Getting down early to a team like Rachel’s is tough. We battled, but it just wasn’t enough today.”
Team Skrlik, featuring Margot Flemming, Ashton Skrlik, Geri-Lynn Ramsay, and coach Shannon Kleibrink, will take home $26,000 for their runner-up finish.
Up next, the men’s final will see Team Brad Gushue take on Team Mike McEwen in what promises to be another curling thriller!
