United States Women's Curling Championship
Established1977
2024 host cityEast Rutherford, New Jersey
2024 arenaThe Rink at American Dream
2023 championMinnesota Tabitha Peterson
Current edition

The United States Women's Curling Championship is the annual women's national curling championship for the United States. It is run by the United States Curling Association (USCA) and typically held in conjunction with the Men's Curling Championship. The champions are eligible to represent the United States at the World Women's Curling Championships if they also rank in the top 75 teams over the last two seasons in the World Curling Tour Order of Merit or have earned 40 points in the Order of Merit year-to-date rankings.[1]

History

The 2021 Championship was originally planned to be held February 6–13 at the ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and it would have been the first time the Women's National Championship was held in Iowa.[2] But in August, 2020 the arena was damaged during a severe derecho storm. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in repairing the arena and in November, 2020 the USCA announced that an alternative host site would be found.[3] Only a month later, the USCA announced another change to the 2021 Championship when they declared that all remaining 2020–21 events would be either cancelled or postponed until late spring 2021. This postponement delayed the Women's National Championship until after the 2021 World Women's Championship and so the 2020 champions, Tabitha Peterson's team, were selected to represent the United States. This gave the team the opportunity to compete at Worlds which they missed the previous year when the 2020 World Women's Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] On March 29, 2021 it was announced that the 2021 Women's Championship will be held in conjunction with the Men's Nationals and Mixed Doubles Nationals in a bio-secure bubble at Wausau Curling Club in Wausau, Wisconsin in May, 2021.[5]

Qualification

The qualification methods and format of the championship has changed over time, but currently eight teams play in each championship. Four spots are awarded to the top American teams in the World Curling Federation (WCF) World Team Ranking System at a particular date roughly two months out from the championship.[6] Three spots are awarded to the top teams from a Challenge Round, open to all United States curlers.[7] The final spot is awarded to a team from that year's Junior Championships, selected by the USCA.

For the 2021 Championship the qualification methods were modified slightly due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The field of eight teams included the 2020 champion and runner-up, the top three teams in the WCF World Team Ranking System on September 1, 2020, and the top three teams from the Challenge Round.[8]

Format

The current format begins with a complete round robin where each team plays every other team. The playoff format depends on the rankings at the end of the round robin. If one team finishes the round robin at least one win ahead of the other teams then that team advances directly to the final and faces the winner of a game between the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams. If two or three teams are tied for first place after the round robin then the top three teams play a version of a page playoff. The 1st and 2nd ranked teams play each other with the winner advancing to the championship game. The loser of the 1st vs 2nd game plays the 3rd place team with the winner of this game advancing to the championship game. If four teams are tied for first place after the round robin then all four advance to a single elimination style playoff. The 1st ranked team plays the 4th while the 2nd ranked team plays the 3rd. The winners of these two games play in the championship.[9]

Past champions

The site and winner of every women's national championship since it began in 1977:[10]

Year Site Winning club Skip Third Second Lead Alternate Finish at Worlds1
1977Wilmette, ILNew York (state) Hastings, NYMargaret SmithCynthia SmithJackie GrantEve Switzer
1978Duluth, MNWisconsin Wausau, WISandy RobargeElaine CollinsJo ShannonVirginia Morrison
1979Winchester, MAWashington (state) Seattle, WANancy LangleyDolores WallaceLeslie FroschNancy Wallace5th
1980Seattle, WAWashington (state) Seattle, WASharon KozaiJoan FishBetty KozaiAija Edwards5th
1981Kettle Moraine, WIWashington (state) Seattle, WANancy LangleyCarol DahlLeslie FroschNancy Wallace8th
1982Bowling Green, OHIllinois Oak Park, ILRuth SchwenkerStephanie FlynnDonna PurkeyKathleen Wilson8th
1983Grafton, NDWashington (state) Seattle, WANancy LangleyDolores CampbellNancy WallaceLeslie Frosch6th
1984Wauwatosa, WIMinnesota Duluth, MNAmy HattenTerry LeksellKaren LeksellKelly Sieger9th
1985Hershey, PAAlaska Fairbanks, AKBev BirklidPeggy MartinJerry EvansKatrina Sharp9th
1986Chicago, ILMinnesota St. Paul, MNGerri TildenLinda BarnesonBarb PolskiBarb Gutzmer7th
1987St. Paul, MNWashington (state) Seattle, WASharon GoodJoan FishBeth Bronger-JonesAija Edwards5th
1988Darien, CTWashington (state) Seattle, WANancy LangleyNancy PearsonLeslie FroschMary Hobson7th
1989Detroit, MINorth Dakota Rolla, NDJan LagasseJanie KakelaCooky BertschEileen Mickelson9th
1990Superior, WIColorado Denver, COBev BehnkeDawna BennettSusan AnscheutzPam Finch8th
1991Utica, NYTexas Houston, TXMaymar GemmellJudy JohnstonJanet HunterBrenda Jancic9th
1992Grafton, NDWisconsin Madison, WILisa SchoenebergAmy WrightLori MountfordJill JonesSilver
1993St. Paul, MNColorado Denver, COBev BehnkeDawna BennettSusan AnscheutzPam Finch8th
1994Duluth, MNColorado Denver, COBev BehnkeDawna BennettSusan AnscheutzPam Finch6th
1995Appleton, WIWisconsin Madison, WILisa SchoenebergErika BrownLori MountfordMarcia TillischAllison Darragh5th
1996Bemidji, MNWisconsin Madison, WILisa SchoenebergErika BrownLori MountfordAllison DarraghDebbie McCormickSilver
1997Seattle, WAWisconsin Arlington, WIPatti LankAnalissa JohnsonJoni CottenTracy Sachtjen6th
1998Bismarck, NDIllinois Wilmette, ILKari EricksonLori KreklauStacey LiapisAnn SwisshelmRisa O'Connell8th
1999Duluth, MNWisconsin Madison, WIPatti LankErika BrownAllison DarraghTracy SachtjenSilver
2000Ogden, UTNebraska Ak-sar-benAmy WrightAmy BecherJoni CottenNatalie SimensonCorina Marquardt6th
2001Madison, WIIllinois Highland Park, ILKari EricksonDebbie McCormickStacey LiapisAnn Swisshelm5th
2002Eveleth, MNWisconsin Madison, WIPatti LankErika BrownAllison PottingerNatalie NicholsonNicole Joraanstad7th
2003Utica, NYIllinois Chicago, ILDebbie McCormickAllison PottingerAnn Swisshelm SilverTracy SachtjenGold
2004Grand Forks, NDWisconsin Madison, WIPatti LankErika BrownNicole JoraanstadNatalie Nicholson4th
2005Madison, WIMinnesota Bemidji, MNCassie JohnsonJamie JohnsonJessica SchultzMaureen BruntSilver
2006Bemidji, MNWisconsin Madison, WIDebbie McCormickAllison PottingerNicole JoraanstadNatalie NicholsonSilver
2007Utica, NYWisconsin Madison, WIDebbie McCormickAllison PottingerNicole JoraanstadNatalie Nicholson4th
2008Hibbing, MNWisconsin Madison, WIDebbie McCormickAllison PottingerNicole JoraanstadNatalie Nicholson7th
2009Broomfield, COWisconsin Madison, WIDebbie McCormickAllison PottingerNicole JoraanstadNatalie Nicholson9th
2010Kalamazoo, MIWisconsin Madison, WIErika BrownNina SpatolaAnn SwisshelmLaura Hallisey5th
2011Fargo, NDNew York (state) Lewiston, NYPatti LankCaitlin MaroldoJessica SchultzMackenzie Lank7th
2012Philadelphia, PAMinnesota St. Paul, MNAllison PottingerNicole JoraanstadNatalie NicholsonTabitha Peterson5th
2013Green Bay, WIWisconsin Madison, WIErika BrownDebbie McCormickJessica SchultzAnn Swisshelm4th
2014Philadelphia, PAWisconsin Madison, WINina SpatolaBecca HamiltonTara PetersonSophie Brorson6th (Allison Pottinger)
2015Kalamazoo, MIWisconsin Madison, WIErika BrownAlex CarlsonBecca FunkKendall Behm10th (Aileen Sormunen)
2016Jacksonville, FLWisconsin Madison, WIErika BrownAllison PottingerNicole JoraanstadNatalie Nicholson6th
2017Everett, WAMinnesota Blaine, MNJamie SinclairAlexandra CarlsonVicky PersingerMonica Walker5th (Nina Roth)
2018Fargo, NDMinnesota Blaine, MNJamie SinclairAlexandra CarlsonVicky PersingerMonica Walker4th
2019Kalamazoo, MIMinnesota Chaska, MNJamie SinclairSarah AndersonTaylor AndersonMonica Walker7th
2020Cheney, WAMinnesota St. Paul, MNTabitha PetersonBecca HamiltonTara PetersonAileen Geving3rd (2021)2
2021Wausau, WIMinnesota Chaska, MNCory ChristensenSarah AndersonVicky PersingerTaylor Anderson5th (2022) 3
2023Denver, COMinnesota Chaska, MNTabitha PetersonCory ThiesseBecca HamiltonTara Peterson7th
2024East Rutherford, NJ
Notes
  1. ^ This column shows the results of the team representing the United States at the World Curling Championships. Based on the rules implemented by the United States Curling Association for the 2013–14 season, the United States team at the World Curling Championships is not necessarily the team that won the national championship. Beginning in 2018, the winner will once again represent the US at the World Championships, provided they have a high enough ranking on the World Curling Tour.
  2. ^ 2020 World Women's Curling Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic The 2020 Champions represented the US at the 2021 World Women's Curling Championship.
  3. ^ The 2022 US Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Champions represented the US at the 2022 World Women's Curling Championship.

Champions by state

(As of 2023)

United States Women's Curling Championship is located in Alaska
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United States Women's Curling Championship is located in the United States
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United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
United States Women's Curling Championship
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Women's Curling Champions
15, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
Rank State Championships
1Wisconsin Wisconsin17
2Minnesota Minnesota10
3Washington (state) Washington6
4Illinois Illinois4
5Colorado Colorado3
6New York (state) New York2
7Alaska Alaska1
7Nebraska Nebraska1
7North Dakota North Dakota1
7Texas Texas1

Sportsmanship award

The Ann Brown Sportsmanship Award has been presented annually since 2007 to one male and one female athlete at the National Championships who are judged to best embody the USCA Spirit of Curling as voted on by their peers. The award is given in memory of Ann Brown, who was the first female president of the United States Curling Association and was the second female inductee into the USCA Hall of Fame.[11]

Female recipients:
Year Recipient
2007 Caitlin Maroldo
2008 Ann Swisshelm
2009 Laura Roessler
2010 Gabrielle Coleman
2011 Chrissy Haase
2012 Tara Peterson
2013 Sarah Anderson
2014 Theresa Hoffoss
2015 Kate Bert
2016 Katie Sigurdson
2017 Donna Umali
2018 Rebecca Andrew
2019 Kim Rhyme
2020 Ariel Traxler

See also

References

  1. "USA Curling relaxes the World Team Qualification Process for 2018". Team USA. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  2. Gewirtz, Jason (Aug 7, 2019). "2021 USA Curling Nationals Headed to Iowa". Sports Travel Magazine. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  3. "2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HOST SITE". USA Curling. Nov 17, 2020. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  4. "USA Curling postpones national championships until after worlds". NBC Sports. Dec 3, 2020. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  5. "2021 MEN'S, WOMEN'S, AND MIXED DOUBLES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS". USA Curling. Mar 29, 2021. Retrieved Mar 29, 2021.
  6. "First nine teams qualify to 2020 Nationals". USA Curling. Dec 4, 2019. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved Jan 13, 2020.
  7. "2020 Nationals field nearly complete". USA Curling. Jan 5, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved Jan 13, 2020.
  8. "2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING PROCEDURES". Team USA. July 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  9. "2019 National Championship Media Guide" (PDF). www.teamusa.org. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  10. "Women's Champions". www.teamusa.org. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  11. "Awards". Team USA. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
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