eagles.rugby — USA Women’s Eagles Head Coach Sione Fukofuka and staff have announced the 23-player squad set to take on host nation England in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. This Friday, Aug. 22, the Eagles will face off against the Red Roses in Pool A at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. USA fans can catch the match live on Paramount+ at 2:30 p.m. ET. [lead photo courtesy of @usarugby]

This year marks the 10th edition of the tournament, which has been expanded to feature 16 teams. The Eagles, currently ranked 10th in the world, are in a competitive Pool A alongside world-number-one ranked England, Australia, and Samoa.

Fukofuka has named 11 players who will make their first Rugby World Cup appearance including Keia Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody, Emily Henrich, Ilona Maher on the starting XV with Alivia Leatherman, Paige Stathopolous, Rachel Ehrecke, Freda Tafuna, Cass Bargell, Kristin Bitter, and Sariah Ibarra on the bench ready to make an impact.

Maher on the loose / Photo: Griff Hastings @gth_images

“Our focus for the first match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is very much on ourselves and executing our game plan to put pressure on England,” Fukofuka commented. “We know they have big external expectations on them as world number 1 and will have the pressure of being the host nation, so we are quietly going about our work, building confidence and looking forward to performing in front of family, friends and fans on the World Cup stage.

“England are World Number 1, and we expect them to be physical, accurate and confident for the full 80 minutes,” he continued. “They have a strong set piece and threats across the field, however we are confident we also have a strong set piece platform with threats to attack them with confidence and have the commitment in defense to give us opportunities to create pressure.

“The team have worked hard to be here and earned their opportunity to represent the United States at the World Cup. Our intensive selection process, followed by the camps at Mount St. Mary’s and Loughborough University have required the players to dig deep and work hard to make the team, so being here is a testament to that work ethic and commitment. Making it here has a level of satisfaction and excitement at the opportunity in front of us, but now we prepare to perform and earn results.”

Jumper Jarrell / Photo: Griff Hastings @gth_images

The atmosphere and energy in the stadium will be high as the match will open with a performance from chart-topping English singer Anne-Marie before players run out to the biggest ever Women’s Rugby World Cup stage.

After taking on the host country, the USA Women’s Eagles will continue their pool stage journey with matches in York against Australia and Samoa. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage.

USA v England

1. Hope Rogers – Exeter Chiefs
2. Kathryn Treder – Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
3. Keia Mae Sagapolu – Loughborough Lightning
4. Tahlia Brody – Loughborough Lightning
5. Erica Jarrell – Searcy – Sale Sharks
6. Kate Zackary – Ealing Trailfinders
7. Georgie Perris-Redding – Sale Sharks
8. Rachel Johnson – Exeter Chiefs / Denver Onyx
9. Olivia Ortiz – Sale Sharks
10. McKenzie Hawkins – Denver Onyx
11. Bulou Mataitoga – Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
12. Alev Kelter – Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
13. Ilona Maher – Bristol Bears / USA Sevens
14. Emily Henrich – Leicester Tigers / Boston Banshees
15. Lotte Sharp – Saracens

16. Paige Stathopoulos – Ealing Trailfinders / Boston Banshees
17. Alivia Leatherman – Trailfinders / Twin Cities Gemini
18. Charli Jacoby – Exeter Chiefs / Queensland Reds
19. Rachel Ehrecke – Denver Onyx
20. Freda Tafuna – Lindenwood University
21. Cassidy Bargell – Boston Banshees
22. Kristin Bitter – Denver Onyx
23. Sariah Ibarra – USA Sevens