Kerttu Niskanen has notably been left out of the Finnish women's relay team, with Jasmin Kähärä securing a position alongside Jasmi Joensuu. Reijo Jylhä, the head coach of the national team, provided a straightforward rationale for this decision, asserting that Jasmin is currently the second-best skier on the team during her break from competition. The selection choices were multi-faceted, involving considerations of performance in previous competitions and the strategic alignment of the team.

Prior speculation had included Niskanen and fellow skier Vilma Ryytty as potential partners for Joensuu in the relay. However, Jylhä emphasized the importance of consistent performance, noting that Ryytty, although experienced in competing at the World Cup level, had not demonstrated the necessary ability in the demanding relay context. The coach also mentioned the necessity of advancing from the time trials, pointing to a performance gap of about 10-15 seconds that needs to be bridged in order to ensure competitiveness.

While Niskanen's performance focus on the 50-kilometer race may be a significant factor in her exclusion from the relay team, Jylhä indicated that her involvement in the relay was not a key topic in discussions regarding travel and competition choices. The decisions surrounding team composition reflect strategic foresight in engaging the best-suited skiers for specific events, thus balancing individual strengths against team needs in competitive scenarios.