The Midwest U23 Thunderbirds have been named for the 2026 USA Rugby Women’s U23 All-Star Tournament. The event occurs June 19-21 in Clearwater, Minn., and is a major selection venue for the USA Pathways and beyond. [lead photo: Mike Conners @mikeconnersphoto23]

https://nextphaserugby.com

The selection process is greatly aided by the annual Midwest U23 LAU 15s Tournament, which occurred May 29-30 in conjunction with the Thunderbird Cup, the senior club all-star equivalent. Eight essentially state-based teams in two tiers of play competed for two day in Lemont, Ill. Thunderbird selectors, who are also Midwest U23 LAU coaches, were able to take in all of the action, meet with players in person, and have a real overview of the Midwest’s best. There are additional means by which a player can make the Thunderbird squad, including coaching recommendations, submitted film and whether someone already exists in the Thunderbird pipeline. Several players who compete in NIRA also came up through the Midwest U18 pathway.

https://navysports.evenue.net/events/GR-CAMP

The 25 players selected are primarily collegians, hailing from NCAA varsity institutions as well as club teams. There are six players competing regularly at the DI and DII senior club level, as well as a handful of Women’s Elite Rugby players from TC Gemini. Susan Whitwell, Megan Flanigan, Xane Gerasimo, Izzi Gibbon and Jade Koenigs comprise the coaching staff.

MIDWEST U23 THUNDERBIRDS

Name — Current Team
Mei Bean — TC Amazons
Mia Blocher — Univ. Notre Dame
Loren Chandy Henich — Chicago North Shore
Madison Cofer — Columbus Squirrels
Camryn Cook — Dartmouth College
Carrie Coyer-Westerberg — Sacred Heart Univ.
Charlotte Dauser — Sacred Heart Univ.
Drew Dauser — Chicago Lions
A’Yani D’Avilar — TC Gemini, Metropolis Valkyries
Liv George — TC Gemini, Univ. Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Catie Hart — Notre Dame
Isabel Henderson — Notre Dame
Annie Henrich — Dartmouth College
Maddie Hubbell — Harvard Univ.
Giselle Long — Eagle Impact Rugby Academy
Kaitlynn Moore — Univ. Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Raquel Muniz Bermudez — Univ. Notre Dame
Carolina Neveen Martinez — La Salle Univ.
Alyssa Post — La Salle Univ.
Ava Reuter — Lindenwood Univ.
Kayla Saikaly — Columbus Squirrels
Arielle Sorelle Noussa Fotso — Dartmouth College
Scout Spadoni — Univ. Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Hannah Timm — TC Amazons
Mya Yourczek — Univ. Minnesota

Staff: Megan Flanigan, Susan Whitwell, Xane Gerasimo, Izzi Gibbon, Jade Koenigs