Favorites Deliver and the Women’s Semifinals

Are Set in Manzanillo

MANZANILLO, Colima, August 30, 2025. All eyes were on the favorites, and this Saturday they confirmed their status. Canada’s two pairs, Darby Dunn and Mikayla Law-Heese, and Akash Grewal and Katarina Pantovic, along with Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez, and Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas, advanced to the women’s semifinals of the tournament.

Sunday’s semifinals will feature an all-Canadian showdown between Dunn/Law-Heese and Grewal/Pantovic, while the other matchup brings a NORCECA classic as Mexico’s Torres/Gutiérrez face Puerto Rico’s González/Navas.

In the quarterfinals, Canada’s Darby Dunn and Mikayla Law-Heese came from behind to defeat Guatemala’s Natalia Girón and Estefanie Bethancourt 2–1 (17-21, 21-9, 15-6), who fought hard until the end. Meanwhile, Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez swept the United States’ Amarie Bremel and Arika Johnson 2–0 (21-9, 21-9).

Puerto Ricans María González and Allanis Navas showed their strength by eliminating Costa Rica’s Katherine Quesada and Aliza Aguilar with a convincing 2–0 (21-14, 21-9). To close out the day, Canada’s Akash Grewal and Katarina Pantovic defeated Mexico’s Naomi Cruz and Angélica Torres 2–0 (22-20, 21-13), sealing a full Canadian presence in the semifinals.

Earlier, the group stage also featured intense battles that shaped the path forward.
In Pool A, Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Gutiérrez topped Costa Rica’s Katherine Quesada and Aliza Aguilar 2–0 (21-18, 21-6).

In Pool B, Guatemala’s Natalia Girón and Estefanie Bethancourt surprised with a 2–1 (21-13, 20-22, 15-12) win over the USA’s Amarie Bremel and Arika Johnson. And in Pool C, Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas prevailed in a thriller, defeating Canada’s Darby Dunn and Mikayla Law-Heese 2–1 (14-21, 21-14, 15-13).

With these results, the women’s tournament enters its decisive stage. Two Canadian duos, along with the power of Mexico and Puerto Rico, keep the race alive toward the grand final to be played at Playa Azul, Manzanillo, Mexico.

RESULTS

QUARTERFINALS

Dunn/Law-Heese (CAN2) 2-1 N. Girón/Guerra (GUA) (17-21, 21-9, 15-6)

Torres/Gutiérrez (MEX1) 2-0 Bremel/Johnson (USA) (21-9, 21-9)

González/Navas (PUR) 2-0 Quesada/Aguilar (CRC) (21-14, 21-9)

Grewal/Pantovic (CAN1) 2-0 Cruz/Torres (MEX) (22-20, 21-13)

POOL-PLAY

POOL A: Torres/Gutierrez (MEX1) 2-0 Quesada/Aguilar (CRC)(21-18, 21-6)

POOL B: N. Girón/Guerra (GUA)  2-1 Bremel/Johnson (USA) (21-13, 20-22, 15-12)

POOL C: Gonzalez/Navas (PUR) 2-1 Dunn/Law-Heese (CAN) (14-21, 21-14, 15-13)