Canada's women's curling team, led by skip Rachel Homan, has begun its Olympic campaign with a decisive victory over Denmark. The match, held at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, saw Canada control the game from early on, ultimately leading to a 10-4 win. This opening success is a crucial step for Homan's team as they aim for their first Olympic podium appearance.

Game Details and Early Momentum
The round-robin play commenced with Canada establishing a lead. In the first end, a strong double-takeout by Fleury set up an opportunity that resulted in Canada scoring two points. Denmark managed to tie the game at 3-3 by the end of the fourth end, demonstrating resilience with a steal and a forced play.

The fifth end proved pivotal, as Canada executed a significant play, "stealing" four points. This move shifted the momentum decisively in Canada's favor. The team further extended its lead in the seventh end, scoring three more points, which prompted Denmark to concede the match.
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Team Homan's Olympic History and Aspirations
This marks Rachel Homan's third consecutive Olympic appearance. Her team, which includes Emma Miskew, Tracy Fleury, and Sarah Wilkes, has a history of strong performances in curling. Notably, Homan and Miskew have been partners for over two decades, achieving numerous Grand Slam titles. Their past successes include being the first Canadian women's team to win the Pan Continental and the first women's team to win a game in a men's Grand Slam event. The team's current objective is to secure a medal at the Winter Games, a milestone that has eluded Homan thus far.

Strategic Play and Key Moments
The match featured instances of precise execution. Canada's opening strategy, involving Fleury's effective takeout, demonstrated early tactical strength. Denmark's response in the middle ends showed their ability to adapt and score.
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The "steal" of four points in the fifth end was a critical turning point. This play signifies a team scoring points in an end where they did not have the last rock advantage, underscoring a lapse in the opponent's play or a strong offensive push.
While a "rare flash" by Homan was noted in the second end during a previous encounter (March 17, 2025, at the World Women's Curling Championship), it did not appear to significantly impact the outcome of this Olympic opener, according to available summaries.
Opponent Context
Denmark, skipped by Madeleine Dupont, was the opponent in this opening match. The team's performance in the initial ends indicated they could compete, but Canada's strong showing in the later ends ultimately proved insurmountable.
Broader Tournament Landscape
The Olympic women's curling tournament features a field of highly ranked teams. Notable competitors include Switzerland (Team Silvana Tirinzoni), ranked second globally, and Sweden (Team Anna Hasselborg) and South Korea (Team Eunji Gim), both ranked ninth. Canada's path to the finals will involve facing these and other strong national teams.
Sources
CBC Sports: Canada's Rachel Homan tops Denmark in women's curling opener at Olympics. Published: February 11, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/curling/olympic-womens-curling-canada-february-11-9.7085289
Globalnews.ca: Canada’s Rachel Homan tops Denmark in opener. Published: February 11, 2026. https://globalnews.ca/news/11664399/canadas-rachel-homan-tops-denmark-in-opener/
TSN: Team Homan’s path to gold at Milano Cortina 2026. Published: February 9, 2026. https://www.tsn.ca/curling/article/team-homans-path-to-gold-at-milano-cortina-2026/
Sportsnet: Winter Olympics women's curling: Scores, standings and schedule. Published: January 30, 2026. https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/article/winter-olympics-womens-curling-scores-standings-and-schedule/
SIRC: Canada’s Team Rachel Homan looking confident following win against Denmark at LGT World Women’s. Published: March 17, 2025. https://sirc.ca/news/canadas-team-rachel-homan-looking-confident-following-win-against-denmark-at-lgt-world-womens/
The Globe and Mail: Canada’s Rachel Homan beats Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont at world women’s curling championship. Published: March 17, 2025. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-canadas-rachel-homan-beats-denmarks-madeleine-dupont-at-world-womens/
Team Homan Official Website: The Team. Seen on: Bing. https://www.teamhoman.ca/the-team
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