USA Curling announced on Oct. 22 that the field is complete for the World Mixed Doubles Playdown Event, scheduled for Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 at the Eau Claire Curling Club in Eau Claire.
The winning team will represent the United States at the 2027 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, set for Jan. 4 through Jan. 10 in Lohja, Finland.
The field is headlined by Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, who earned their berth from the final 2025-26 World Curling Mixed Doubles Ranking List. Thiesse and Dropkin also represented the United States at the recent World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event in Lafayette, Colorado, going undefeated and capturing gold to secure the U.S. berth in the 2027 championship.
Other teams in Eau Claire include Sarah Fenson and Andrew Stopera, Madison Bear and Aidan Oldenburg, Becca Hamilton and Matt Hamilton, and Allory Johnson and Caden Hebert, along with Ann Podoll and Nathan Parry, Sara Bassiri and Austin Kadlec, and Bailey Vaydich and Ethan Macomber.
USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell said the playdown was needed because the world championship has moved from its traditional late-April slot to early January. The organization plans to hold its 2027 Mixed Doubles Nationals in late April or early May, with those winners representing the United States at the 2028 championship.
