FINAL Power Rankings 2024

 #BetweenTheSheets: FINAL 2024 Power Rankings

Who ends the year atop the mountain?

"Fall seven times, stand up eight."

- Japanese Proverb

A perfect mindset to have heading into a new year.

And one that can resonate with athletes from any sport.

Sport is never perfect. Not every game of every season is going to go your way.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But it is how you respond to the tough times that truly can define your real success.

Curlers are no different.

Sometimes they fall, literally and figuratively, in the sport.

For some curling teams (and nations), perhaps the start of the 2024/25 season has not been as ideal as one would have hoped heading into the season.

With the calendar switching over to 2025, considered this your reset moment.

Reset the mind. Reset the body. Reset the results.

For each fall, you stand up.

But this is also a reminder for those teams (and nation) who have found great success this season.

A fall may still be coming. Nothing is perfect. And when, not if, you fall, remember to get right back up.

For us non-athlete people, this proverb holds true as well.

Perhaps you had a great year. Perhaps it was a horrible year. And perhaps it was mediocre.

We can all agree is was not perfect. We all probably fell a few times, maybe more than seven times.

But we are still standing. And lets continue to stand going into 2025.

For the final time in 2024, lets climb curling's most talked about mountain ⛰

Normally, the parenthesis number behind each team is where they were ranked in the last Power Rankings post.

The previous ranking number is still there BUT a second parenthesis number has been added. This second number shows where the team/nation was ranked at this point last year, when we said goodbye to 2023. Note, there was no rankings for the Nations at the end of 2023.

Who has made the biggest climb this season?

#PowerRankings

MEN

1. Team Mouat (PR: 1, LY: 3)

Season Highlight: #GSOC Champion x3

Team Mouat is aiming for the Golden Slam this season, having already won the opening 3 majors. Overall, they have 5 titles under the slider already this season and are clearly the #1 in the world right now.

2. Team Muskatewitz (3, NR)

Season Highlight: Euro Champions

No doubt what the season highlight is here. A "surprise" Euro title for the German team, who really has been excelling and improving since last season.

They also just won a tour title in Japan, after competing in their 1st #GSOC Tier I event and reaching the playoffs.

This is your world championship sleeper team right now folks. Watch out!

3. Team McEwen (2, HM)

Season Highlight: PointsBet Invitational - Champions

It was a strong start to the season for Team McEwen, claiming the #Sweep16 title in Calgary back in September (and the nice winner's purse of course). They also have 2 tour title wins.

And 2 SF results on the #GSOC circuit too.

4. Team Schwaller (HM, 7)

Season Highlight: Canadian Open - SF

Switzerland's Team Schwaller actually sits #2 on the Year to Date (YTD) season rankings, highlighted by their 2 tour titles, another finals appearance and their #GSOC Canadian Open SF appearance.

Winning the Euro Trials as well was huge as the level of men's curling in Switzerland continues to grow and become much more competitive.

Speaking of....

5. Team Hoesli (9, NR)

Season Highlight: A #GSOC regular

This has been a breakthrough season for the young Swiss team. They reached the playoffs at the Tour Challenge Tier II and have now become Tier I regulars.

They have also won 2 tour title, reached 2 additional finals and 3 SF results.

6. Team Jacobs (5, 4)

Season Highlight: National - Runner-up

Is Team Jacobs starting to peak at the exact right time? Could they be the true #Favs for the Brier title this season?

They reached a #GSOC final at the National. They reached another final a few weekends ago at a tour event in Swift Current.

And they do have a tour title under the slider this season.

7. Team Calvert (8, NR)

Season Highlight: Current 3 event win streak

Ok, this may be a bit controversial of a ranking to have a team sitting at #28 on the world rankings this high up the Power Rankings but we have to reward results, right?

Look at this season stat from Team Calvert: 4 titles from 7 events and they have qualified in all 7.

They have won 3 straight tour events and headed into the Christmas break on a 13-match winning streak and 14-1 in their past 3 events.

Remember, the Power Rankings does not just reward slam teams for winning a game or two at big events. The mountain rewards overall results and consistency on tour, something Team Calvert has shown all season but especially over the past 4 weeks.

8. Team Epping (7, NR)

Season Highlight: 4 tour titles

How about another team moving up the rankings with consistent results on tour?

Team Epping has now won 4 tour titles, adding a 4th title right before Christmas in Duluth, MN. They have reached 5 finals overall.

And their tour record over the months of November and December? An impressive 22-5 over 4 events.

9. Team Dunstone (HM, 6)

Season Highlight: Tour Challenge Tier I - SF

It has been an interesting season for Team Dunstone. A team with a ton of potential but mixed overall results.

They do have 2 tour titles to their credit, combined with 3 additional SF results. But they also struggled at the last slam, missing the playoffs.

We will see how the lineup change affects them in 2025 as the team welcomes E.J. Harnden to the team to reunite with his brother Ryan.

10. Team Gushue (6, 8)

Season Highlight: GSOC Runner-up x2

Is it weird to know Team Gushue has not won a tournament this season?

The current Canadian champions are not curling bad...but they are not curling at their full potential either.

They do have the final appearances at 2 GSOC majors, The Tour Challenge Tier I and Canadian Open. They also reached the final at the season opening PointsBet Invitational.

But they also failed to reach the podium at the Pan Continental Curling Championships as two-time defending champions.

This isn't a "hit the panic button" type of situation (YET?!) as the team has qualified for the playoffs in every event they enter.

But not winning a tournament is eyebrow raising, no?

Honourable Mention: Team Whyte, Team Brunner, Team Retornaz, Team Shuster, Team Ramsfjell

WOMEN

1. Team Homan (1, 2)

Season Highlight: Pan Continental - Gold

Yes, Team Homan wins everything. They are dominating the #GSOC scene right now and are the clear cut #1 team in the world.

But the Pan Continental gold medal might be a highlight as they won as Team Canada and became the first Canadian women's team to sit atop the podium. Making #HERstory matters!

Heading into 2025, the question is whether anyone can really stop the #HomanEmpire from continuing to reign supreme of the curling world.

2. Team Hasselborg (2, 6)

Season Highlight: Euro Championships - Silver

After missing the 2023 European Curling Championships due to their qualifier defeat against main rival Team Wrana, the Euro result this season is a big one.

Team Hasselborg is looking more and more like the dangerous world championship threat we have seen in the past.

They are also coming off a finals appearance at the last #GSOC event and have a tour title to their credit this season.

They are looking dangerous!

3. Team E. Kim (3, 9)

Season Highlight: #GSOC Results

Talk about consistency. How about Korea's Team Kim?

They have 2 SF results and another QF finish at the slams already this season.

They have also qualified in all 9 events entered, reached 4 finals and own 1 tour title.

And this is coming from a team who entered the season knowing they cannot compete at the 2025 world championship on home ice after losing at the Korean championships before the season started.

If we ever want to ask the question "what are you playing for?" just look at their results and how they come to play each event.

4. Team Tirinzoni (5, 1)

Season Highlight: Euro Championships - Gold

No question the highlight of the season is being able to #DefendTheIce at a continental championship.

Switzerland's Team Tirinzoni remains the Queens of Europe and will be looking to regain their world championship in 2025.

They also have a tour title under the slider and reached a slam final.

But lets not overlook the fact they have missed the playoffs at the other 2 #GSOC events this season.

5. Team Ha (8, NR)

Season Highlight: Final Four Consistency

Making the playoffs on a consistent basis is hard. But reaching at least the SF round week in and week out is even harder.

Korea's Team Ha is making it look easy. They have reached the Final Four stage 8 times this season, including 2 #GSOC majors.

The knock against them may be having a slight SF monkey on their brooms, having only reached 2 finals and won 1 title.

But here we have another Korean team playing out a season and proving they are one of the best teams in the world.

Isn't Korean women's curling fun to watch right now folks?!?!

6. Team Fujisawa (6, NR)

Season Highlight: Consistency, Consistency, Consistency

They may not have a tour title win under the slider but Japan's Team Fujisawa is always in the discussion come playoff weekend.

Similar to Ha above, Fujisawa has 7 Final Four appearances this season with 3 finals.

They have qualified in every slam with their best result being a SF at the Tour Challenge Tier I.

The upcoming Japanese Curling Championships in February will also be a must-see event.

7. Team Tabata (NR, NR)

Season Highlight: 5 tour titles

Enter another Japanese team to keep your eyes on.

Team Tabata has already found the winner's circle 5 times this season. 5 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

They also reached the SF round at 3 other events, including the Tour Challenge Tier II.

And while they may not have reached the playoffs at the National, this is a team on the rise and quickly becoming a Tier I slam team.

Do not underestimate them!

8. Team Skrlik (9, NR)

Season Highlight: 5 final appearances

5 Alive! There is a theme brewing here.

While Team Skrlik may not be able to match the 5 tour titles of Tabata, they do have 5 tour final appearances to brag about.

How is that for consistency?

And they do have 2 tour titles to their credit as well.

Remember the PointsBet Invitational? Where they made the championship final? It would seem the result gave them the confidence heading into the season.

Next stop? 2025 Scotties playoffs perhaps?

9. Team Gim (7, 3)

Season Highlight: Autumn Gold Curling Classic - #DefendTheIce

Korea's Team Gim seems to thrive on Calgary Curling Club ice, winning the Autumn Gold event again over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October.

Gim also represented Korea at the Pan Continental Curling Championships, reaching the final as the defending champions.

But they have only reached the playoffs at 1 slam event (QF - Tour Challenge Tier I) and have been a bit inconsistent with their results, at least in comparison to last year and what we have grown to expect from the Korean champions.

Can they turn their season around in the second half as the prepare to be the host team at the 2025 World Women's Curling Championship?

10. Team Yoshimura (HM, NR)

Season Highlight: From Tier II ---> Tier I QF

Japan's Team Yoshimura will also be a formidable team to watch at the upcoming Japanese championships.

At the season opening #GSOC event, Yoshimura reached the Tour Challenge Tier II final. Fast forward a few months and they were earning their spot in the slam fields and reached the QF at the National.

They have also won 2 tour titles this season and reached 2 other tour finals.

Honourable Mention: Team Kang, Team Black, Team Einarson, Team Schwaller, Team Kitazawa, Team Wang

MIXED DOUBLES

1. Team Gill/Hewitt (1, NR)

Season Highlight: 3 tour titles

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!

Australia has a top ranked curling team.

Remember at the last Winter Olympics where it was this big #TeamUpset story having the Aussies compete on Olympic ice in mixed doubles?

Goodbye #TeamUpset and hello 2026 Winter Olympic #Fav?

2. Team Kaldvee/Lill (4, 4)

Season Highlight: 2 tour titles

Last season the Estonians reached the world final and made history with the first world championship medal for their nation.

Fast forward to the end of 2024 and one could argue this duo is the #Fav for the world title this season.

They already have 2 tour titles under the slider and 3 additional Final Four results.

They are a tough team to beat in any event right now.

3. Team Skaslien/Nedregotten (2, 6)

Season Highlight: Finals, Finals, Finals

The monkey on the broom remains for the top Norwegian curling couple.

Always a threat. Always making a push for a title. Always coming up short in the final game?

They have 3 final appearances on tour this season but are still searching for their first title.

4. Team Koana/Aoki (6, 2)

Season Highlight: 2 tour titles

2 final appearances. 2 tour titles. 2 additional SF appearances.

Consistency, Consistency. It comes in two's for Japan's Team Koana/Aoki.

The downside though is the loss in the Japanese Mixed Doubles Curling Championship final to....

5. Team Matsumura/Tanida (5, 3)

Season Highlight: Japanese Mixed Doubles Curling Championship - Gold

Team Matsumura/Tanida won their 3rd Japanese title a few weeks ago, having previously won the title in 2023 and 2020.

They will represent Japan at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.

The duo also has 1 tour title to their credit this season alongside 3 SF appearances and 2 QF results.

6. Team Walker/Muyres (HM, 1)

Season Highlight: Playoff Consistency

Through 5 events this season, the prairie duo remains a playoff threat. They enter an event and they qualify for the playoff bracket.

In those 5 playoff appearances, they have reached 1 final, 1 SF and 3 QF.

The tour consistency bodes well for them as they are currently competing at the Canadian Mixed Doubles Olympic Trials in Liverpool, trying to earn the right to become Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

But will the lack of playoff finish hurt them?

7. Team Dodds/Mouat (3, NR)

Season Highlight: 2 tour titles

While we may not see this duo on the mixed doubles tour in comparison to teams above them on the mountain, when they do enter they are usually picking up wins.

They have played 3 tour events this season, reaching the final each time and winning 2 titles. They just won a tour title this past weekend in Sweden, knocking off Estonia's Team Kaldvee/Lill in the final.

But they did slip up at the Scottish Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, failing to reach the playoffs.

8. Team Homan/Bottcher (NR, NR)

Season Highlight: 1 tour title

Enter the duo many are predicting to be the next Team Canada.

The pairing already has a tour title win this season. They also won an Olympic trials qualifier event.

And they are looking very strong at the halfway point of the Olympic Trials, currently underway in Liverpool.

While they have only competed together 4 times this season, they have 2 event wins and 2 QF results.

9. Team Zheng/Pietrangelo (7, 10)

Season Highlight: #NextGen U25 Mixed Doubles - Gold

The future of Canadian mixed doubles could come out of Niagara Falls, ON.

Team Zheng/Pietrangelo won the U25 MD title earlier in the season and followed it up with another tour title in Victoria a few weeks later.

While they are currently competing in Nova Scotia at the Olympic Trials, we know they already will be  a Team Canada representative at the upcoming Winter University Games after winning the FISU Mixed Doubles Qualifier.

T10. Team Martin/Laycock (8, 5)

Season Highlight: 3 Final Four Results

When one thinks of mixed doubles in Canada, the name "Nancy Martin" should come to mind. There are few Canadian curlers who have consistently competed in both mixed doubles and four-person team disciplines on a regular basis. Nancy Martin is top of the list.

Martin, teaming with fellow Sasky Steve Laycock, have been consistent this season in their buildup to the Olympic Trials.

They have 2 final appearances, another SF finish and 2 QF results on the season resume.

If karma had a spot on the curling ice, it would be throwing a stone in Martin's direction for good luck this week in Liverpool. 

T10. Team Weagle/Epping (10, NR)

Season Highlight: 1 tour title

John Epping is making a move in the men's game, as seen above with his team on the men's Power Rankings Top 10.

But he is also making a move in mixed doubles with partner Lisa Weagle.

Again, a team we may not see as often on the mixed doubles tour but a team who puts together consistent results when they do compete.

They have 1 tour title this season, have reached 1 additional final and a QF appearance in their only other event.

And they are looking VERY strong in Liverpool at the Olympic trials right now.

Could they surprise the field and become the next #TeamCanada?

Honourable Mention: Team Perret/Rios, Team Sinclair/Brydone, Team Abbes/Harsch, Team Morrison/Lammie, Team Cotter/Cotter

NATION

1. Sweden (3)

Season Highlight: World Mixed Curling Championship - Champions

When you can score a world championship title, it can be considered a winning season. Sweden was able to do so in Aberdeen, SCO, defending their world title won in the same venue in 2023.

Sweden also picked up a Euro silver medal when Team Hasselborg reached the championship final.

Hasselborg and Team Wrana continue to show #SwedishViking power on the women's tour while Team Edin clings to a Top 10 world ranking.

But remember, #KingNiklas is the defending world champion and should never be overlooked in the second half of a season.

2. Switzerland (1)

Season Highlight: Euro Gold - Women

Team Tirinzoni's success in Finland and ability to #DefendTheIce has been the season highlight for the Alp nation.

A bronze medal win at the world mixed was also a reason to celebrate. As well as the junior boys recently earning promotion back to the world junior A-Division in 2025.

And lets not forget how many top Swiss teams are competing on tour. We have 3 men's teams ranked within the Top 12 (Schwaller, Hoesli, Brunner) and 2 women's teams within the Top 10 (Tirinzoni, Schwaller).

3. China (4)

Season Highlight: Pan Continental - Double Podium

China went from PCCC B-Division in 2023 to a double A-Division podium finish in 2024. Impressive.

The men won the championship while the women took home a bronze. They were the only nation to have both teams reach the A-Division podium.

The junior women recently earned world junior A-Division promotion as well.

It is official...China Is Back!!

4. Scotland (5)

Season Highlight: Euro Championships - Double Podium

Similar to China above, Scotland found themselves as the only nation to earn a double podium finish at their continental championship.

The men took home the silver while the women won a bronze.

Scotland also has the #1 men's team in the world, Team Mouat, while claiming a second Top 10 team in Team Whyte (#7).

5. Japan (6)

Season Highlight: World Mixed - Silver 

Japan had a great start to the world championship portion of the season, reaching the world mixed final and winning a silver medal. They became the first Asian team to reach the final and the first Asian team to win a medal since the inaugural event in 2015 (China - Bronze).

Japan also made headlines at the Pan Continental Curling Championships when the men defeated defending champion Canada in the SF to reach the final and ultimately win a silver medal.

The Japanese women would reach the playoffs as well but would lose both playoff games to finish 4th.

Do not overlook the women's program though. We have seen a number of Japanese women's teams climb the world rankings this season. Team Fujisawa remains the highest ranked (#7) but Team Tabata (#11) and Team Yoshimura (#13) are right behind. Team Kitazawa (#16) and Team Ueno (#22) are also impressing this season.

6. Canada (2)

Season Highlight: Pan Continental Gold - Women

The streak is over and the monkey is off the back for Curling Canada. Canada finally won Pan Continental women's gold. Team Homan's victory was #HERstory for the curling proud nation.

But the win came at a cost perhaps as the men, Team Gushue, not only failed to defend the title but also failed to land on the podium.

And Canadian teams are being finding it hard to retain Top 10 spots on the world rankings, with only 4 men's teams and 2 women's teams. If we expand the rankings view, there are only 4 women's teams and 5 men's teams within the Top 15.

7. Germany (HM)

Season Highlight: Euro Gold - Men

For the first time since 2004, Germany are the reigning European men's champions. Team Mustkatewitz shocked the curling world with their run through the Euro competition in Finland, topped off with their finals win over defending champions Team Mouat from Scotland.

The German women also earned A-Division promotion for 2025 with their B-Division silver medal win, meaning Germany will once again have both the men and women competing in A-Division next season.

Mustkatewitz also qualified for their first #GSOC event and reached the QF. And they are ranked within the Top 10, sitting at #9. For the season ranking, they actually sit #4.

The German resurgence is on.

8. Korea (HM)

Season Highlight: Pan Continental Silver - Women

The Korean women had another strong showing at the Pan Continental Curling Championships, reaching the final for the 3rd straight year.

But Team Gim were unable to #DefendTheIce, losing the final to Canada's Team Homan.

The men struggled early but picked up key wins when they needed them most to just squeak into the world championship field as the last qualified team.

On a more positive note, both the junior boys and junior girls teams won the junior B-Division championship and earned Korea a spot in both fields for the 2025 World Junior Curling Championships.

9. Poland (9)

Season Highlight: Euro Promotion - Men

Poland had a very successful 2024 Euro B-Division campaign. The men reached the final, won a silver medal and earned A-Division promotion for 2025. The women also reached the playoffs and won a bronze medal.

For a nation only a few years removed from being a World Curling member association, Poland is starting to find their slide path once again.

And the mixed doubles program is starting to thrive as well, adding Canadian Kyle Doering as coach and finding success on the mixed doubles tour.

Poland also reached the QF at the world mixed championship.

10. Kazakhstan (NR)

Season Highlight: Pan Continental B-Division - Double Podium

Similar to Poland at the Euro championships, Kazakhstan was the highlight nation of the Pan Continental B-Division in 2024.

The men reached the final, won a silver medal and earned promotion to the 2025 A-Division while the women reached the playoffs and won a bronze medal.

On the world championship scene, Kazakhstan surprised a few people with their playoff appearance at the world mixed, losing their R16 game to eventual runner-up Japan.

Honourable Mention: Norway, USA, Italy, Denmark, Czechia  

#StayTuned

Keep your eyes out East in Nova Scotia as the Canadian Mixed Doubles Olympic Trials conclude this week.

Stay up to date with all the results and standings HERE.

And, most importantly, be safe and happy during New Year's celebrations.

See you all in 2025 🎆🎇