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GLENDALE, COLORADO – The Denver Onyx defeated the Bay Breakers in a 24-17 victory to claim the 2026 Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) Legacy Cup on Saturday, August 8 at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo. The Onyx became the first team to win back-to-back championships in WER after also claiming the trophy in the 2025 Legacy Cup over the New York Exiles. [lead photo c/o Women’s Elite Rugby @rugbyevolved]
The Onyx got out to a fast start, with a breakaway try by flyhalf Aly Cunningham putting them up 7-0 early in the match. Hooker Jojo Kitlinski added to Denver’s lead with another try, bringing the score to 14-0 just 11 minutes into the game. The Breakers responded quickly with their first try of the match from fly-half Laura Bocek but missed the conversion out wide. The two teams traded defensive stops at the try lines before the Onyx broke through again, this time with a try from inside center Saher Hamdan. Cunningham dotted down her second try of the night to close out the scoring in the first half, and went 3-for-4 on conversion kicks to put her team up 24-5. The half closed out with a high-speed kick chase with Bocek coming just inches from a second try before Denver flanker Carson Hann kicked the ball dead to cap off the first 40 minutes of action.
Saher Hamdan / Photo c/o Women’s Elite Rugby
The Breakers kicked off the scoring in the second half with a try from lock Emily Nelson. Fullback Olivia Bernadel-Huey could not make the kick from the wide angle, but the try put the Breakers within two scores of the Onyx, 24-10. The second half saw both head coaches, Sarah Chobot for the Onyx and Hannah Stolba for the Breakers, make strategic substitutions to bring fresh legs to the pitch. Breakers sub Celine Liulamaga fulfilled that duty, scoring a spectacular diving try between the goalposts. Bernadel-Huey’s successful conversion brought the score to 24-17. Despite holding off Denver’s prolific scoring offense, a yellow card for the Breakers Emma Hovanec in the 78th minute proved to be the final item on the game sheet, as Bay was unable to find another try before time expired.
Photo c/o Women’s Elite Rugby
Highlights from the trophy presentation include Denver Onyx’s Aly Cunningham being selected as Player of the Match following her 2-try performance. Of the award, Cunningham said, “It means everything. This whole team has been behind me. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.” The Kathy Flores Heart of a Champion Award, presented by the US Women’s Rugby Foundation, was given to Mary Swanstrom, an Assistant Coach and Athletic Trainer for the Bay Breakers.
Despite the final scoreline, the Breakers remained proud of their perseverance, with Breakers captain Ari Jurkowski noting: “In the locker room, all we talked about was getting back in that game, with that determination and grit… We didn’t let them score at all in that second half, and we just needed that one more try. We didn’t get there, but I guarantee you: 10 more minutes and we would have.”
Photo c/o Women’s Elite Rugby
The Onyx entered the match as the defending 2025 champions, returning to the title game with momentum and experience, while the Bay Breakers made their first-ever Legacy Cup appearance following a 25-17 semifinal victory over the TC Gemini. The two teams had split the regular season series 1–1, setting the stage for a decisive championship showdown at Infinity Park.
The 2026 Legacy Cup marked the culmination of WER’s second professional season, bringing together the league’s top two teams to compete for the national championship.
Photo c/o Women’s Elite Rugby
About Women’s Elite Rugby (WER)
Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is redefining the future of the sport in the United States as the first professional women’s rugby league. Officially launched in 2024, WER’s inaugural season kicked off in March 2025 with six founding teams across Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Northern California, and the Twin Cities, featuring 180 of the world’s top athletes. Built on the competitive legacy of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), WER evolves the game from amateur roots into a professional stage built for longevity, unlocking new opportunities for athletes, partners, and fans. With a focus on elite competition, commercial growth, and cultural relevance, WER is ushering in the next stage of rugby in the United States.
For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/.