Suda, seen here during summer 7s, will captain the Glendale backs. /// Photo: Carisa Weaver •
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicks off this weekend, and two-time defending champion Glendale will be hosting San Diego in one of four league matches. The Raptors, like most teams, have had some player turnover, which they’re weathering through new additions and rising developmental players. Fortunately for head coach Kitt Ruiz, the numbers and the talent are present, and they will propel the team into the WPL’s eighth season.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure [to defend the championship], more so as a coach than a team,” said Ruiz, who was promoted to head coach in the spring. “It’s my first fall as head coach, and it comes after winning national championships as a player and then as an assistant coach. There’s pressure, but the chips will fall where they fall. I just want this group to have a good experience and play good rugby.”
Ruiz has a lot of things working for her. Firstly, the program attracts good numbers, and practices have been pulling approximately 45 players. The Raptors are running two sides this fall, and the second team has a completely different schedule from the WPL side. The only intersection occurs on Oct. 15, when Berkeley and the Utah Vipers travel for WPL and developmental games in Glendale.
“There will be a lot of fluidity between the two sides, and it’ll be about how you perform on and off the field and your commitment level,” Ruiz said of the competition for WPL spots. “There’ll be fluidity up until a certain point, because you have to make sure players get at least two WPL games to be eligible for nationals.”
Established leaders include USA prop Sarah Chobot and center Christen Suda, who led the summer 7s team. The pair will captain the forwards and backs, respectively, and get support from tactical decision-makers like Eagle scrumhalf Jenny Lui, No. 8 Taryn Brennan, U.S. flanker Joanna Kitlinski, and Jeanna Beard, who could see time at both hooker and center this season.
Pressuring that starting line are rising players like Julie Tordonato, Leann Lam and Raquel Serra, who have been impressing at the developmental level. Glendale newcomers like Melissa Pohleber from Wisconsin and a French international who arrives this week will also intensify the fight for roster spots.
As Ruiz familiarizes herself with the player pool, she’s also implementing a structure that reflects her coaching ideology.
“My goal for the spring and fall has been to really help players become decision-makers,” Ruiz explained. “Player always ask, ‘What do I do now?’ And I tell them, ‘It depends on what’s in front of you.’ I’m not on the field on Saturday, so I can’t see that hole from the sideline. You want to give them a structure that lets them express themselves, so they can make the decisions and play freely.”
Ruiz has been pleased how the players have responded, and they’ll test themselves on Saturday, Sept. 10, when the Surfers come to town. This season, the WPL champions will not play any games in the Infinity Park rugby stadium, and instead host matches on the turf field outside of the arena.
“Of course players want to play in the stadium, but the games will be on the turf field, where it’s free for people to come watch,” said Ruiz, who indicated that practices occur in the stadium. “We’re just enjoying all of the opportunities we have here playing in Glendale.”
Sept. 10 will also serve as an alumni event and hopefully draw big crowds to the WPL opener. Glendale will further build its fanbase with home games against fellow Blue Conference mates ORSU on Oct. 8 and Berkeley on Oct. 15. For the full WPL schedule, click here.
RELATED WPL ARTICLES
Surfers Welcome Incoming Talent
New Players, Coaches for WPL’s New York