Emma Greco knows exactly what it takes to complete the "reverse sweep." Two years ago, she was part of the Minnesota team that overcame a 2-0 series deficit in the PWHL semifinals against Toronto, winning three straight games to advance. Now, as a member of the Ottawa Charge, Greco finds herself in a familiar situation: trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five Walter Cup final against the Montreal Victoire.
History of the Reverse Sweep
In 2024, Minnesota lost the first two games of the semifinal series without scoring a single goal, as Toronto tallied six unanswered. Panic set in, but the team rallied to win three consecutive games, completing the first reverse sweep in PWHL history. They then defeated Boston in five games to claim the inaugural Walter Cup.
Greco and teammate Michela Cava, who were both on that Minnesota team, have shared their experience with the Charge locker room. "There was a bit of panic in the room because it was the first year with the league and the first time there was a five-game series," Greco recalled Tuesday. "Here I think there's no panic in the locker room, and we just know that we have to take it one game at a time, and anything can happen in a five-game series."
Ottawa's Comeback Begins
After dropping the first two games in Montreal, both in overtime, the Charge returned home for Game 3 at the Canadian Tire Centre. On Monday night, Rebecca Leslie scored the game-winning goal in front of the hometown crowd, keeping Ottawa's championship hopes alive. The series now stands at 2-1 in favor of Montreal, with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
Greco noted that players like Leslie, Jocelyne Larocque, and Alexa Vasko, who were on the losing side of Minnesota's reverse sweep while wearing Toronto jerseys, have also contributed their perspective. "They even said that after winning two games they were super excited and confident, but they definitely remember what it felt like to get reverse-swept," Greco said.
Mindset Moving Forward
The Charge locker room maintains a positive outlook, focusing on winning one game at a time. "Just win one in a row, again," Greco emphasized. The team knows that a single win can shift momentum, just as it did for Minnesota in 2024. With the series far from over, Ottawa aims to force a decisive Game 5 and complete their own reverse sweep.
