The stage is set for a wide-open battle at the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, as the Canadian women's curling championship is set to begin this Friday, January 23, in Mississauga, Ontario. With the nation's top-ranked team absent, a new champion is guaranteed to be crowned when the tournament concludes on February 1.
A Field Ripe for Opportunity
The most notable absence from this year's field is the top-seeded Team Canada skipped by Rachel Homan. Homan's rink, the two-time defending national champion, will instead be preparing to represent Canada at next month's Winter Olympics in Italy. This opens the door for a mix of seasoned veterans and eager newcomers to seize the national title.
Stepping into the coveted Team Canada jackets this year will be the 2023 champion, Kerri Einarson, and her Manitoba-based squad. Einarson, a four-time Scotties winner, earned this spot by finishing as the runner-up to Homan in the 2025 final. Her experienced team, featuring third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard, and lead Karlee Burgess, is immediately considered a top contender for the championship.
Contenders and Debutants Across the Pools
The 18-team field is split into two pools, with Einarson's Team Canada headlining Pool A. A key challenger in that group is Team Saskatchewan, skipped by Jolene Campbell. Campbell, who won the provincial title earlier this month in Melville, is skipping Saskatchewan at the Scotties for the first time since 2016, though she played third for Chelsea Carey in 2022.
Her Saskatchewan team boasts significant experience, with third Robyn Silvernagle having skipped the province three times previously (2019, 2020, 2023). The squad also includes second Rachel Big Eagle, who is making her third trip to the Scotties but her first in the active lineup after previously serving as an alternate. Lead Dayna Demmans will be making her national championship debut.
In total, 20 players among the 18 teams will be competing in their first Scotties Tournament of Hearts, highlighting a fresh wave of talent entering the national spotlight. Alongside established stars like Einarson, other veterans such as Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes, Alberta's Kayla Skrlik, and Nova Scotia's Christina Black are poised to make strong runs in what is considered a crowded and competitive field.
Notable Teams to Watch
Team Manitoba (Lawes): Skipped by Selena Njegovan with Olympic champion Kaitlyn Lawes throwing fourth stones, this Winnipeg rink qualified as the final qualifier based on the Canadian Team Ranking System after losing the provincial final to Beth Peterson. Lawes brings immense experience from 11 previous Scotties appearances.
Team British Columbia: Skip Taylor Reese-Hansen is making her Scotties debut, but her Victoria-based team enters as the No. 4 seed in the event. They earned their spot by defeating two-time defending B.C. champion Corryn Brown in the provincial final, signaling they are a formidable new force.
As the first stones are set to slide in Mississauga, the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts promises a compelling showcase of curling's present and future, where legacy and opportunity collide on the national stage.
