#WWCC2024 Preview

 #BetweenTheSheets: The March Madness Continues

Cape Breton Island welcomes the world

Welcome to March Madness.

And no, the "madness" is not akin to only NCAA basketball.

Curling has its own variation of the annual sporting event.

The madness began a few weeks ago with the Montana's Brier in Regina, SK.

With that event less than a week in our rearview mirror, we are already looking ahead to the next big event.

Now we shift our focus to a global scale as the madness gets ready to rock the world.

13 of the best teams in the world will make their way to Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia to chase world championship glory.

The NCAA #MarchMadness tournament will only announce their men's and women's brackets this upcoming weekend...and by the time the action hits the hardcourts next week, we could already see some #TeamUpset results and bracket busting action on the ice in Sydney. 

Will the #Favs run over the competition or will a #TeamUpset emerge to shock the system once again?

We saw Norway make a surprise run to the final last year.

But we also saw the champs from Switzerland #DefendTheIce...AGAIN!

Well if you have March Madness fever, do not forget to cool yourself down on the ice as curling brings its own flavour of March Madness into your house this weekend.

In fine #TwineTime tradition, welcome to the World Women's Curling Championship Preview post.

This year's world championship marks the start of the Olympic qualification process.

7 nations will earn direct tickets to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy based on their combined results at the 2024 and 2025 world championships.

As this is Year #1, nations competing this year want to finish Top 7 (Top 8 if you include Italy) to put themselves on the positive side of the cut line heading into next year's championship.

Italy, as 2026 host nation, already has earned an auto berth into the competition.

The final 2 spots in the 10 team Winter Olympic field will be decided at the Olympic Qualification Event (date and location TBD). For a nation to earn a spot at that event, they need to compete in at least 1 world championship event in 2024 or 2025.

And remember, nations still need to qualify for the 2025 world championship field based on their results at the 2024 Pan-Continental Curling Championships and 2024 European Curling Championships.

Just because a nation is competing at the 2024 world championship, and may have a Top 7 result, does not mean they will be competing at the 2025 world championship.

But each nation needs to tackle one checkmark at a time. Step 1 was qualifying for this championship. Step 2 will be a Top 7 (or 8) finish. Step 3 will start next season.

World championship glory AND Olympic qualification points are on the line starting this year, making this event true March Madness!

In support of #MarchMadness (my favourite time of the year if you have not guesses already), the preview post will once again do a full Seed Report (similar to the #PowerRankings) of the 13 teams entered into the field.

From there, some key elements to watch for and concluding with the #TwineTime predictions.

Take note, the Seed Report below is based on the current World Curling Federation Women's World Rankings.

For reference, behind the nation name is the team representing the nation and their team ranking is included followed by in brackets the team's overall record and their Head 2 Head record against the field this season.

Welcome to March Madness...on ice!!

#TwineTimePreview

World Women's Curling Championship

Centre 200

Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

2023 Champion: Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni)

Format: 13 team RR with Top 6 qualifiers to the playoffs. 1st and 2nd place receive bye to SF.

#SeedReport

1. Switzerland - Team Tirinzoni, #2 (67-13 overall, 20-7 H2H)

This is looking eerily similar to last year folks. Entering the world championships last season, Tirinzoni was sitting #2 in the world (behind another Canadian team) and had almost an identical season record (62-18 last year).

This year, they arrive looking for the #5peat...with more wins and less losses than a year ago.

They have qualified in all 10 tour events played, including reaching 5 finals and winning 3 titles.

And remember they went undefeated in Aberdeen, SCO to win the 2023 European Curling Championships.

The one caveat to look out for is their record this season vs. Team Homan: 0-3, including back to back #gsoc final losses at the Masters and Canadian Open.

Tirinzoni will battle Homan Tuesday night in Draw 11 action, perfectly situated in the middle of the RR.

How the world champs perform in that game could determine if they are looking ready for world championship glory once again or if times are indeed a changing?

The opener vs. Korea is going to be a blockbuster...and perhaps a playoff (even final?) preview.

Can we just celebrate the fact we are even talking about a team trying to win 5 straight world championships? Absolutely amazing!! #HoppSchwiiz

2. Sweden - Team Hasselborg, #5 (50-19, 8-6)

The 2018 Olympic champions and two-time world silver medal winners are back...and they are chasing the one prize that has eluded them on their impressive curling resume.

It has been an up and down season for "The Family Circus" team.

Celebrating additions to the family and some strong curling season results have been a positive.

Losing the Euro qualifier to rival Team Wrana and missing the European Curling Championships was a negative.

But could the negative turn into the ultimate positive?

Perhaps not competing at the always stressful Euro's is a blessing. It added extra fuel to the fire to compete. And maybe gave an extra rest in the schedule to have them feel more energized to compete here.

They did win the Swedish Curling Championships, even though it was announced before the championships Team Hasselborg would be going to this event to represent Sweden regardless.

Hasselborg has qualified in 7 of 8 tour events this season, including reaching 3 tour finals and winning 2 titles.

This year, they also arrive with a little less pressure. They are not considered a huge #Fav for the title, like they have been some years in the past.

A playoff team? Of course. But perhaps, as a world championship contender, they may be flying a bit under the radar this week.

And that could make them even more dangerous than ever before.

Watch how they come out in their opener vs. Canada. Homan is the top team in the field and the home nation, the crowd will be roaring for every shot. It can be a blessing once again to draw Canada early.

If you win, you surprise the field right out the gate. If you lose, you get them off your playing card right away and have a full week ahead to regroup. It really is a no-lose situation for Sweden on opening night.

After failing to reach the podium at last year's world championship, losing the SF to Switzerland and bronze medal game to Canada, Sweden is going to be coming here hungrier than ever before.

3. Canada - Team Homan, #1 (47-5, 7-2)

Enter the #Fav!

What can be said about the Canadian champs that hasn't already been said?

Canada may enter as the #3 seed on the world rankings but the Canadian champions are the #1 team in the world. And for good reason. Look at that record.

5 losses all season?! 7 tour events. 6 playoff appearances. 6 finals. 5 titles. Plus the undefeated run at the Scotties to win the Canadian championship.

They arrive in Sydney on an impressive 16-match winning streak and are 17-1 in 2024.

Take note though, 2 of their 5 losses have come against teams in this field: Korea's Team Gim and Italy's Team Constantini.

It feels weird to say this but Homan has not been at a world championship since 2017, when she won her only world title.

Vice Tracy Fleury will be making her world championship debut.

Could nerves, and the long wait to get back here, factor into the games? Especially early on?

The opener vs. Sweden will be fun. And they wrap up the opening weekend against Denmark and USA. A 3-0 start, even 2-1, will keep them at or near the top of the table by Monday morning.

Interesting to also note, there is 1 team who owns a perfect 2-0 record vs. Homan this season.

Any guesses on who?

The trivia answer is revealed below.

4. Japan - Team Ueno, #30 (37-24, 0-1)

Two years ago we welcomed Turkey to the world championship scene. Last year, New Zealand made their debut. Who is this season's "New Kids on the Block"? Enter Japan's Team Ueno. While Japan is a regular fixture at these world championships, their 2024 representative will be making their debut.

From recent junior ranks to women's world championship ice, it has been a fast rise for the #NextGen team. They already made #TeamUpset headlines when they won the Japanese Curling Championships, dethroning perennial #Fav Team Fujisawa. Can they keep the momentum going though against this strong, and experienced, field?

On top of the Japanese championship win, they played 11 tour events this season. They reached 1 final and qualified in 6 events overall. They played the majority of their season in Canada, mostly in Alberta, so they would have seen fairly strong ice conditions. This could help them.

But look at that H2H record. They only faced 1 team in this field and that was a loss to Korea's Team Gim at the end of September. But could their opposition's unfamiliarity with them work to their advantage?

This is the ultimate #TeamUpset in the field and the team who could do some bracket busting. Anything from a surprising playoff push to finishing at, or near, the bottom of the table is within the realm of possibility.

The opening weekend will see them face New Zealand, Turkey and Denmark. With respect to those three teams, it is not the most daunting schedule to open your debut world championship appearance.

If they can get comfortable on the ice and pick up a win or two to open the event, watch out.

5. South Korea - Team Gim, #3 (78-24, 11-7)

This is the team #TwineTime warned you all about at the start of the season. If there was a team who looked ready to surprise the world and make a deep run towards world championship glory, Korea's Team Gim were going to be that team.

Here they are. And they arrive as the #3 team in the world.

Look at their season record folks. 78 WINS!! 78!!

Of course note the Korean Curling Championships are held in June but this means they have been playing competitive curling since June. They are in month 10 of their season. Wow!

And note the H2H record. They have played many of these teams throughout the season. They are even one of the teams with a victory over Team Homan, having done so in the final of The National to pick up their 1st #gsoc title.

They also earned their spot in this field with their Pan-Continental Curling Championship gold medal run in Kelowna back in late October/early November.

Momentum could be on their side as well, having just won a tune-up tour event in Bern, SUI in January. 

Not only expect this team to be in the playoff hunt but don't be surprised to see them fighting for one of the SF byes after the RR AND being right on the podium come championship weekend.

They draw the champs in their opener but close out the weekend against Turkey and Estonia. A 2-1 record, perhaps even 3-0, would be a great start for them and put them right on the path to the playoffs.

Remember, skip Gim Eunji is not a world championship rookie either. This will be her 5th appearance, having 4th place finishes in 2012 and 2014. But this will be her 1st world championship as skip.

6. USA - Team Peterson, #15 (37-25, 4-6)

The US champs are back once again...and this year they will be looking to improve their "slightly" disappointing 7th place finish from a year ago.

After a playoff appearance two years ago, failing to make the playoffs by 1 game last year was a bit surprising for the American team.

They will enter the 2024 championship right on the cut line of many playoff predictions.

USA is seeded #6. Team Peterson, against the field, would be seeded #6 as well. Top 6 make the playoffs.

This season, Peterson has qualified in 4 of 8 events, winning 1 tour title. They also landed on the podium at the 2023 Pan-Continental Curling Championship, defeating Canada's Team Einarson for bronze.

A playoff appearance is expected. But missing the playoffs would not be surprising either.

This is the perfect definition of a #BubbleWatch team. Anything from playing for a medal to squeaking into the playoffs to missing the playoffs completely seem to be viable options right now.

Opening weekend could reveal a lot. They draw Turkey, Switzerland, Canada, Norway.

If they want to be in the playoff hunt by the end of the RR, they need to be sitting, at worst, 2-2 come Monday morning.

7. Scotland - Team Morrison, #17 (44-29, 6-13)

Rebecca Morrison will be making her 3rd straight world championship appearance but perhaps the first with so much pressure on her slider.

Morrison was selected to compete at this world championship after failing to win the Scottish Curling Championship, finishing 2nd behind Team Henderson.

It was a controversial decision considering Henderson also beat them 3 of the 4 times they played one another at the Scottish championship, including the final.

And with Olympic qualification points on the line, Morrison will have all British Curling eyes squarely on here this week.

The team, which includes Olympian Jenn Dodds at vice, will want to not only show the selection was the right move but also silence any doubters.

Failing to make the playoffs, or even a sub-Top 7 or 8 finish, would raise a lot of eyebrows back home.

On the positive note, the team has qualified in 7 of 9 events this season, including 2 final appearances.

But the 5-4 record as host team at the 2023 Euro's, failing to make the playoffs, stands out as well.

The team did win Euro bronze in 2022 though so we know they are capable of making playoff pushes.

They also finished 3-9 at last year's world championship, in 12th place.

They enter right on the cut line between playoff challenger and playoff pretender.

Norway, New Zealand and Italy is not the most daunting slate for opening weekend, especially drawing 2 teams you are familiar with from the recent European championships (0-2 though).

They will need to find a way to start at least 2-1 to be in the challenge though. 

8. Norway - Team Rørvik, #22 (30-19, 8-10)

Last year's #TeamUpset and the 2023 world silver medal winners are back...and will be looking to prove to the world last year was no "fluke" result.

To their credit, they showed up at the 2023 European Curling Championships with a similar mentality of having something to prove. And they did just that in winning the bronze medal.

We may want to stop underestimating the Norwegian team now and start putting credit to their name as a legit playoff contender and podium threat once again.

The difference this year is they will not be catching anyone off guard as much as they did last year.

This season they have qualified in 5 of 7 events, including reaching 1 tour final.

The Euro result is really the standout on their season though, navigating a competitive field to reach the playoffs and land on the podium.

They can control their fate from opening weekend, drawing Scotland, Sweden and USA. These are 3 nations many think will be in the playoff fight as well.

Remember, similar to what we saw at the Scotties and Brier, there are no TB games at world championships. Head 2 Head results matter most.

If Norway can knock off 2 of those opening 3 to start the event, those H2H wins may come back to help (or hurt) them later in the week.

9. Denmark - Team Dupont, #36 (21-21, 4-7)

The 2022 Euro champions have not had the follow up season they were hoping for in 2023.

As the record indicates, it has been a .500-type of season.

A few high's, including reaching the final of the Tour Challenge Tier II event.

A few lows, including the disappointing 3-6 record at the 2023 Euro's as defending champions.

Which team shows up in Sydney? Last year they struggled in Sweden, posting a 5-7 record and 11th place finish.

If they want to gain Olympic qualification points, they will need to improve this year.

On the positive side, skip Madeleine Dupont will be back with the team after giving birth to her first child early January. This year will also mark Dupont's 15th world championship appearance, an amazing accomplishment.

We have seen motherhood bring positive results on the ice for athletes in the past, could Dupont be the next mom to find success?

Opening with Canada, Turkey and Japan could be a positive. Even if they lose to the heavily favoured Canadians, drawing a Turkish team they beat at Euro's this season and a Japanese team making their world championship debut is an opportunity for a 2-1 opening weekend record and being right in the thick of things.

10. Italy - Team Constantini, #9 (50-36, 9-15)

Seems weird to see the #9 team in the world seeded as the #10 nation in the field, right?

If we go by team rankings, Team Constantini should be considered one of the playoff contenders.

If we go by nation rankings, Italy will struggle to make the playoffs.

Which is a more accurate representation?

Well, considering Constantini is coming off a monumental European Curling Championships silver medal performance, have qualified in 9 of 13 events and won 1 tour title, being a playoff contender makes sense.

At the same time, remember this team is coming off a shocking silver medal performance at the recent Italian Curling Championships, losing the final (while playing with only 3 team members of course) to Team Mariani.

This team did make the playoffs last year though, ending up with a 5th place finish. They may have some unfinished business on their minds heading into the 2024 championship.

And without the stress of Olympic qualification points for their nation weighing in the back of their minds (you know EVERY other team will be thinking about it), it may leave them a bit more free to focus on the task at hand.

It worked in their favour in Aberdeen. It could do the same in Sydney.

An opening weekend against Estonia, Sweden and Scotland is a great way to get the slider comfortable. Competitive games but also winnable games. A 3-0 or 2-1 start is a strong possibility.

And if this team gets off on a good start and gets on a roll early, they may be tough to slow down.

11. Turkey - Team Yildiz, #55 (21-24, 2-5)

Back in 2020, the #TwineTime blog awarded Turkey the Golden Granite Award for #TeamUpset of the Year - Nation.

Team Yildiz was competing in the Euro B-Division at the time, reaching the final to earn A-Division promotion and booking a spot in the now defunct World Qualification Event. The nation itself had risen into the Top 20 in the world.

Fast forward 4 years and Yildiz is a Euro A-Division mainstay, creeping in on a Top 50 world ranking, the nation on the cusp of a Top 10 ranking and Yildiz making her 3rd straight world championship appearance.

The team went 2-10 in the 2022 world championship debut but remember what happened last year?

They went a "surprising" 6-6 to finish 1 game out of the playoffs.

Could this be their year to make their 1st playoff appearance?

They have played 3 tour events this season, qualifying each time, reaching 2 finals and winning 1 title.

Their lone title also happens to have come in their last event played in Cortina, ITA in January, where they also picked up big wins over Italy and Norway.

This is a playoff challenger team...and a team who could be building towards #HERstory in booking Turkey a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

TwineTime knew it was bound to happen back in 2020. Now time for Turkey to show the rest of the world they are a nation to watch out for.

They open with USA, Denmark and Japan. Last year they started 1-2. Could they go one better and start 2-1 this year? And, if so, could that be the difference maker between being a playoff team this year or a 7th/8th place finish?

12. Estonia - Team Turmann, #188 (7-0, 0-0)

Japan's Team Ueno may be identified as a #TeamUpset but the Queen of #TeamUpset for this event may actually be Estonia's Liisa Turmann.

The lowest ranked team in the field, we have only seen them compete once this season.

And that was at the Estonian Curling Championships.

Where they went undefeated.

Winning games also against all the men's teams competing on the men's side of the championship.

Now, to be fair, there was only 1 other women's team in the field (Team Peebo).

And the women's field was missing the top ranked Team Kaldvee (#63 in the world).

But they still did their job to earn their ticket to this world championship, earned via Kaldvee's result at the 2023 European Curling Championships.

This will be the 2nd appearance for Estonia at the World Women's Curling Championship BUT Turmann was also a member of the team when the Baltic nation made its debut in 2021 as vice with sister Marie Kaldvee (nee Turmann).

Her previous experience here could be helpful to the team.

How they compete in Sydney is....unknown really. Their opposition is probably unfamiliar with them.

They may be a bit unfamiliar with their opposition as well.

So who knows what the end result will be.

Being a playoff challenger may be outside the realm of possibility but picking up a few wins along the way could happen.

They open with Italy, Korea and Switzerland. Talk about a Welcome Wagon basket. Yikes! 

13. New Zealand - Team Smith, #118 (10-5, 0-2)

The Kiwi's made their world championship debut last season, finishing 0-12.

This season the team booked their ticket back to the world championship and will try to make #HERstory in recording their first win.

Some people believed last year's appearance was a bit of a fluke, qualifying with a Top 5 finish at the 2022 Pan-Continental Curling Championships.

But this team backed up their performance in 2022 at the 2023 PCCs with another Top 5 finish to once again earn their spot in this field.

It will not be an easy road to victory though, as was a similar case a year ago.

However, they are here and they are earning New Zealand Olympic qualification points, which is the ultimate long-term goal right now.

If they can take the experience of a year ago and build on it, perhaps this is the year we celebrate the 1st Kiwi W at the Women's World Curling Championship.

#TwineTimePredictions

Projected Standings:

1. Canada  2. Switzerland  3. Korea  4. Sweden  5. Italy  6. Norway  7. USA  8. Denmark  9. Japan  10. Turkey  11. Scotland  12. New Zealand  13. Estonia

Qualifiers:

Canada, Switzerland, Korea, Sweden, Italy, Norway

Bronze Medal

Sweden (Team Hasselborg) def. Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni)

#WWCC2024 CHAMPIONSHIP

Canada (Team Homan) def. Korea (Team Gim)

#TwineTime Podium Picks

Gold - Canada

Silver - Korea

Bronze - Sweden

What say you rockheads? Agree? Disagree?

Who do YOU think will land on the podium? Will we see any surprise results? Who will be #TeamUpset?

Trivia Answer: Korea's Team E. Kim is 2-0 vs. Team Homan this season (WFG Masters, Co-op Canadian Open)

#StayTuned

There is A LOT of curling hitting the ice right now. On top of the women's world championship, we have the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship.

The #CMDCC2024 event will take place in Fredericton, NB from March 17 - 22. It will be a 32 team event with 4 pools of 8. The Top 12 will qualify for the playoffs with the pool winners earning a bye to the QF. Full details, including scores, can be found HERE.

The #CWhCC2024 event will take place in Moose Jaw, SK from March 24 - 30. It will be an 11 team event with the Top 4 qualifying for the playoffs. Stay up to date on all the action HERE.

To those competing at #WWCC2024, the ice is yours. The world is watching.

And wishing all the athletes competing at upcoming Canadian championship good luck and good curling.