The 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts opens Friday at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, featuring 18 teams competing for the Canadian women's curling title. With two-time defending champion Rachel Homan absent to prioritize the 2026 Winter Olympics, Kerri Einarson's squad steps in as Team Canada favorites. This guide highlights the key rinks, their qualifications, and notable storylines.
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts brings together top women's curling talent from across Canada, running as the national championship ahead of international competitions. Homan's decision to skip the event for Olympic preparation in Italy shifts the spotlight to Einarson's Manitoba-based team, which earned the Team Canada spot as the top-ranked squad in the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS). Einarson, with third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, lead Karlee Burgess, alternate Krysten Karwacki, and coach Reid Carruthers from the Gimli Curling Club, dominated from 2020 to 2023, securing three titles while representing Canada.
Alberta's Team Skrlik, skipped by Kayla Skrlik with third Margot Flemming, second Ashton Skrlik, vice-skip Geri-Lynn Ramsay, alternate Crystal Rumberg, and coach Shannon Kleibrink from Calgary's Garrison Curling Club, qualified as the second CTRS team. They seek to build on recent national showings, including a 6-2 record last year and an upset win over Homan at the Olympic trials.
Nova Scotia's Team Black, led by skip Christina Black alongside third Jill Brothers and front-end players Jennifer Baxter, Karlee Everist, and Marlee Powers with coach Stuart MacLean from the Halifax Curling Club, enters as the third CTRS qualifier. Fresh off a bronze medal at the 2025 Scotties and silver at the Olympic trials—where they defeated Einarson 6-3 in the semifinals before falling to Homan—they aim for gold.
Manitoba's Team Lawes, now skipped by Selena Njegovan with fourth Kaitlyn Lawes, second Laura Walker, lead Kristin Gordon, alternate Erin Pincott, and coach Marcel Rocque from Winnipeg's Heather Curling Club, filled the void left by Homan. Walker, a five-time Scotties veteran and 2021 bronze medalist, replaces Jocelyn Peterman, who is pursuing Olympic mixed doubles.
Other provinces send champions from playdowns: Alberta's Team Sturmay (Selena Sturmay skip) impressed at the Olympic trials with a 4-3 record; British Columbia's debutant Team Reese-Hansen (Taylor Reese-Hansen skip) upset veterans to win provincials; Manitoba's Team Peterson (Beth Peterson skip) ousted top rivals; New Brunswick's young Team Forsythe (Mélodie Forsythe skip, ages 19-22) marks a generational shift; and Quebec's Team Fortin (Jolianne Fortin skip) features the event's youngest lineup, all under 21, after clinching silver at the under-20 nationals.
Northern teams include Northern Ontario's veteran Team Scharf (Krista Scharf skip), Northwest Territories' Team Kaufman (Nicky Kaufman skip) with coach Kerry Galusha; Nunavut's returning Team Weagle (Julia Weagle skip); and Yukon's Team Scoffin (Bayly Scoffin skip). Saskatchewan's Team Campbell (Jolene Campbell skip), Ontario's Team Armstrong (Hailey Armstrong skip), Prince Edward Island's Team Power (Amanda Power skip), Newfoundland and Labrador's Team Mitchell (Mackenzie Mitchell skip), and Nova Scotia's second entry, Team Stevens (Taylour Stevens skip), round out the field. With Homan out, the competition promises intense battles for the crown.
