[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, December 18, 2024]—This week, Team Giroux second Ella Fleming’s sole focus is helping her team earn a berth in the 2025 World Women’s Junior Curling Championship.

But this talented young player is also a trailblazer—Fleming is the first African-American to represent the United States at a World Curling event.

Introduced to the sport at the age of six at the Capital Curling Club in Bismarck, ND, by her parents, Fleming has steadily advanced through the junior ranks, and was part of the winning rink at the 2022 U18 Girls’ Nationals. Last season, however, was a breakthrough, as Fleming and her teammates (Allie Giroux, Tessa Thurlow, Brooke Giroux, Savannah Koch) captured the USA Curling Junior Women’s National Championship at the Eau Claire Curling Club in Eau Claire, WI.

While competing in Finland, the young player said, “I’m certainly proud to be the first, but I’m hopeful that I’m just the start. I love being a part of the curling community, and I think it will only get stronger as participation grows among all Americans.”

After dropping their opener in Finland to China, Team USA has come back with wins against Spain, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and Croatia, and now faces Latvia in the quarter-finals. The team needs to medal at the World Bs to qualify for the 2025 World Junior Women’s Curling Championship, scheduled for the site of the 2026 Olympics in Cortina, Italy.

USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell added, “We believe curling clubs are true community assets, and our sport brings people together in ways that few others do. Expanding participation among people who may not have considered curling in the past is a key part of our efforts to grow the game, and we’re thrilled to have Ella representing the country at this important international event.”

More information about the World Women’s Junior-B Championship is available through World Curling.

About USA Curling

Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Toyota, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of the World Curling Federation and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.