Canada’s Einarson bounces back in women’s world curling with win over Turkey

By Canadian Press on March 18, 2026.

CALGARY — Kerri Einarson’s curling team welcomed a quick win after a short night at the women’s world championship.

Turkey shook hands after six ends in a 9-3 loss to Canada on Wednesday morning.

Einarson and company rebounded from an extra-end defeat to Switzerland the previous evening.

A few hours later, the Canadians were back at WinSport Event Centre to dispatch the Turks with a steal of three in the first end and steals of two in the fifth and sixth.

“It is nice to have that so we can go have something to eat and put our feet up and have a good rest,” Einarson said. “Definitely didn’t get much sleep last night. These quick turnarounds are tough.”

The host country was to face Scotland at night. Canada was in the middle of three straight “split” days — playing in the morning and evening draws.

The top six teams in the field of 13 at the conclusion of pool play Friday advance to the playoffs.

The top two teams earn direct entry into Saturday’s semifinals. The medal games are Sunday.

Canada and Switzerland topped the standings at 6-1 after the morning draw with the Swiss set to face Australia in the afternoon.

Sweden got to 6-2 with a 9-4 win over China (3-4). Japan was an 8-6 winner over Italy to move into a tie with South Korea at 5-2.

Turkey fell to 4-3 with its third straight loss. Denmark was tied at 3-4 with China and Scotland after a 9-3 win over Norway.

Italy was 2-5. Norway, Australia and the United States were 1-6.

Teams must play a minimum eight ends before conceding in Canadian championships, but it’s only six internationally.

Rocks were “papered” or “sharpened” overnight, which is the process of sanding the granite that’s smoothed over the course of several draws.

Stones grab pebble and curl more after they’re papered. It’s a variable that Einarson expected in her fourth world championship.

Her Manitoba team adapted. Turkey’s Dilsat Yildiz didn’t.

“Definitely changing your release after last night when last night was so straight and fast and then today it’s swinging and you’ve got to get them running,” Einarson explained. “We got caught on a couple paths and it was super loud out there.”

Schoolchildren in the stands in the morning draw made for a lively, noisy building. Sweep communication was challenging.

“I probably sounded like I was panicking but I’m like ‘it’s so loud’ so trying to figure it out and learn the sheet and I thought I did a pretty good job,” the skip said.

Canada was beaten in the pre-game draw to the button for hammer a second straight game, but stole three points in the opening end.

Turkey countered with two in the second and a steal of one in the third, but it was all Canada after that with six points over three ends.

“It was a good bounce-back game,” said third Val Sweeting. “Just kind of stuck with it and tried to figure it out.

“It was loud. There were some times where we couldn’t hear each other and didn’t quite get what we needed, but it was just one of those reminders to look up and communicate in different ways.”

Einarson, Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Karlee Burgess out of Manitoba’s Gimli Curling Club seek their first world title.

Einarson, Sweeting, Birchard and Briane Harris were bronze medallists in both 2023 in Sandviken, Sweden and 2022 in Prince George, B.C.

They tied for fifth in their debut in 2021 in Calgary’s COVID-19 curling bubble.

Einarson didn’t get the chance to represent Canada the first time she won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2020. The world championship was cancelled that year because of the pandemic.

So the 38-year-old skip is taking a fourth swing at a world title, armed with lessons from previous appearances she did get.

Einarson recalled giving up a steal of one in the 11th end to fall to South Korea in a Prince George pool game.

“You’re learning off of those losses and I know exactly how that end unfolded,” Einarson said. “Unfortunately you have to learn from those losses before you win. I think we have learned.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2026.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press