Kerri Einarson and her Manitoba team are set to compete at the 2026 BKT World Women’s Curling Championship in Calgary, aiming for their first global title. Unlike the fanless 2021 event in the same city, this tournament will feature full crowd support. The skip expressed excitement about the home atmosphere and family presence.
Kerri Einarson, the 38-year-old skip from Manitoba's Gimli Curling Club, is preparing to lead her team into the 2026 BKT World Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Pharmasave, at Calgary's WinSport Event Centre. The event opens on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on TSN, marking a significant contrast to their previous appearance there in 2021, when pandemic restrictions created a bubble environment with no fans and strict protocols.
"The cardboard cutouts weren’t ideal," Einarson said with a giggle, recalling the empty stands. This time, she noted, "It’s going to be pretty amazing to be able to have fans in the stands. A lot of our family and friends are coming, so we’re going to have so much support." The team has opted for an Airbnb stay instead of the hotel from 2021, where they resided for months.
Einarson's squad, five-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champions in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2026, has attended three prior world championships without securing gold. They earned bronze medals in Sandviken, Sweden, in 2023 and Prince George, B.C., in 2022, and fell short of a medal in the 2021 Calgary event.
Team members emphasized the value of crowd energy. Second Val Sweeting, from Edmonton, said, "We’re really looking forward to having the full experience there." She highlighted lessons from past events, adding, "It would definitely mean a lot to win... You don’t know how many times you’re going to be in this position."
Shannon Birchard discussed strategies to stay focused, such as avoiding social media and spending time together, lessons learned from the isolating 2021 bubble. Lead Karlee Burgess anticipates the atmosphere will energize them, drawing from a recent home-like event in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Einarson acknowledged the pressure of representing Canada: "That maple leaf can be heavy." Yet, she remains optimistic, stating, "We’re just going to go out there and enjoy the moment." Over the nine-day tournament, the team seeks redemption from past shortcomings and their elusive world title.
