The roaring game will feel a seismic shift of granite next year following the launch of the world’s first professional curling league.
The Curling Group announced Thursday the creation of Rock League, a multi-format competition featuring six mixed-gendered global franchises set to debut in April 2026.
The inaugural season is expected to run six weeks. Each week of action will take place in a different location, with plans for events in Canada, the United States and Europe.
“Rock League is a reflection of The Curling Group’s vision to professionalize and evolve the sport of curling, uniting fans and athletes from around the world,” TCG co-founder and chief executive officer Nic Sulsky said in a release. “We’re building a global stage where elite play and passion for the sport collide.
“Today’s announcement is just the beginning, with many more details to come, as we work to build a premium experience that will elevate the game for all.”
The first six franchises, initially owned by TCG, will be organized by region: two from Canada, two from Europe, one from Asia-Pacific and one from the United States. Each team will include five men’s curlers and five women’s curlers.
Rachel Homan (Team Canada 1), Brad Jacobs (Team Canada 2), Bruce Mouat (Team Europe 1), Alina Paetz (Team Europe 2), Korey Dropkin (Team United States) and Chinami Yoshida (Team Asia-Pacific) have signed on as team captains for the six franchises with full rosters to be determined in the fall.
“I never really thought of what’s the potential of being a full-time curler, like what’s that actually look like? And is there ways that the sport can grow into being something bigger,” Mouat said. “As soon as we found out about this pro league, I was like, well, this is it. This is the thing that is going to make our sport blossom and more exciting for spectators, having people play together that are not necessarily meant to play together.
“I think the whole idea of it is something that’s very spectacular, and I’m so excited to be able to captain the team.”
Women’s professional sports in general are on the rise in Canada, as seen by the success of the PWHL, the formation of soccer’s Northern Super League and the WNBA’s plan to expand north of the border with the Toronto Tempo next year. Curling will now join the ranks.
“There’s much more opportunity for women in sport, and I feel like little girls’ dreams can be realized now,” Homan said. “Pick your favourite sport and you can be the best there is and be able to showcase that in front of a live audience and feel the rush and energy of a crowd, playing your favourite sport that you have the most passion for. It’s exciting to see so much opportunity for the young girls that have big dreams.”
For Paetz, the creation of a professional curling league will also help change the perception of the sport.
“I’ve played curling for so long, curling is my life, and I think we never got enough attention as curlers,” Paetz said. “I think curling is a great sport, I think we have so many great athletes, but if you talk to the people outside, they just think curling is kind of a little bit of a boring sport and like only old people play it, and that’s just not what it is.
“I think it’s just such a great chance to show what curling actually is and to have something like a pro league will just take it to the next step.”
Olympic gold medallists John Morris and Jennifer Jones will serve as strategic advisors for Rock League, overseeing the formation of rosters and the format of play.
Official team names, event formats, dates, locations and broadcast information will be announced over the coming months.
TCG also owns and operates the Grand Slam of Curling, which will run five events during the 2025-26 season from September to January. The sports business venture held two new events earlier this month: the Rio Mare Battle of the Sexes, featuring Team Homan versus Team Mouat in a charity skins match, and the TCG All-Star Game, which marked their first international event at Tee Line Nashville in Tennessee.
