2016 World Women's Curling Championship tale of the tape: Switzerland vs Japan

The World Women's Curling Championship reaches its climax Sunday afternoon in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, when Switzerland takes on Japan in the championship game. (5pm ET, TSN).

Switzerland looks to continue its domination at this event, having won the last two women's world championships and three of the last four, with three different teams claiming gold. This year's squad, skipped by Binia Feltscher, is exactly the same team that won the world championship over Rachel Homan's foursome two years ago in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The Japanese women's team, skipped by Satsuki Fujisawa, has already made curling history, as they will take home that nation's first ever medal at a world curling championship. They were not expected to be in this position, but here they are, the upstarts of the week, one win away from a gold medal.

Here is a breakdown of some of the statistical numbers ahead of the championship game:

The Swiss team is ranked number 22 on the World Curling Tour's Order of Merit year-to-date standings, with a record of 44 wins and 29 losses on the season, according to statistics at CurlingZone.com. The Japanese are ranked 32nd in the world, with a record of 47 and 27.

These teams have squared off three times this season, with Japan winning the first meeting back in January at the Glynhill Ladies International tourney by a score of 7-5. The Swiss have beaten Japan twice this week at the worlds; by a 7-4 score during the round robin and then by an 8-4 score in the 1 v 2 playoff game on Friday night.

Overall, Switzerland has a record of 10 wins and 2 losses at this tournament, while Japan comes in with a record of 10 and 3.

Switzerland has averaged 6.42 points per game this week, while giving up an average of 4.92 per game. As a team, Feltscher's foursome shot 84% during the round robin portion of the schedule, upping that percentage ever so slightly (85%) in the 1 v 2 game against Japan on Friday night.

Japan has averaged 7.08 points scored, while giving up an average of 4.69. As a rink, Fujisawa's team shot 87% during the round robin to lead all teams. They shot 10 points below that average in the 1 v 2 game on Friday night, but bounced back with another 87% in their 7-5 semi-final win over Russia.

Below, each player's cumulative shooting percentage from round robin games and their ranking at the position. (Switzerland on the left, Japan on the right with their rankings in parentheses)

Leads: Christine Urech, 83% (Tied-9th). Yurika Yoshida, 84% (8th)

Seconds: Franziska Kaufmann, 86% (T-2nd). Yumi Suzuki, 86% (T-2nd)

Thirds: Irene Schori, 87% (2nd). Chinami Yoshida, 89% (1st)

Skips: Binia Feltscher, 79% (6th). Satsuki Fujisawa, 86% (1st)

Feltscher soared in the 1 v 2 game against Japan, bumping her shooting average by ten points to 89%. Schori and Kaufmann stayed pretty well on point with their round robin averages with each of them shooting 86%. Urech fell from 83% to 78%.

Fujisawa's shooting percentage fell to 71% in the 1 v 2 game, then rocketed to 93% in the semi-final. Chinami Yoshida scored numbers of 74% followed by 82%, while Suzuki recorded a 75% followed by an 88%. Yurika Yoshida came in at 90% in the first playoff game, and then 85% in the semi.

Team Switzerland has two wins in ten events so far this season, with disappointing finishes in so many major tournaments, including missing the playoffs at all three Grand Slam events in which they took part. In fact, they've missed the playoffs six times in 2015-16. Getting to the final in this event may have surprised even them.

Japan has scored two wins in nine events this season. Last autumn, they played four events in Canada, missing the playoffs three times and finishing second at the Hub International Crown, in Kamloops, B.C.

Each of these teams is coached by a Canadian; The Swiss by Al Moore and the Japanese by J.D. Lind.