eagles.rugby — The USA Rugby Women’s U-23 7s program assembled for the first time in 2025, bringing 19 collegiate and senior club players to the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center last week. Head coach Irene Gardner oversaw the camp, which occurred alongside the USA U23 15s camp. [lead photo: Griff Lacey for USA Rugby]
Players were identified through USA Pathway regional talent ID camps, and standout performances at collegiate championships and the U23 All-Star 15s Tournament that took place last month in Quincy, Mass.
“These athletes demonstrated a strong performance on the pitch or in their physical testing, and this camp presented an opportunity for them to train and compete in a replicated full-time environment for the week,” Gardner note.
“During camp, we assessed core skills on attack and defense, tested physical performance metrics, and competed in scrimmages at the end of the week,” the coach continued. “From this, we can now identify athletes that have senior national team potential and will continue on a journey in the Women’s Pathway, while also giving them the resources to support their own development away from this environment.”
Women’s U-23 7s Camp Roster
Cassidy Ball – U.S. Military Academy
Azhinaye Barner – Life Univ
Emma Buxton – UCLA
Caitlyn Caldon – Danbury
Carrie Coyer-Westerberg – Sacred Heart Univ
Nevaeh Elliott – Life University
Corinne Gallagher – Phoenixville White Horse
Ava Gregory – Princeton University
Isabel Henderson – Univ. Notre Dame
Jennifer Holland – North Bay
May Lauritzen – Cal
Morgan Linck – Univ. Northern Iowa
Alopa Nau – HEB Hurricanes
Caley Newcomer – Oregon State
Arielle Sorelle Noussa Fotso – Carmel (IN) / Dartmouth College
Mariah Overby – Cal
Maurina Street – Univ. South Dakota
Lauren Thomlinson – Drury Univ
Celia Watson – Princeton Univ
Coaches & Staff
Irene Gardner | Pathway W7 Head Coachp
Kelly Griffin | Pathway W7 Assistant Coach
Jackie Rodriguez | Pathway W7 Lead Athletic Trainer
Sam Queen | Assistant Athletic Trainer
Martha Daines | Head of Player Systems and Development
Kristin Zdanczewicz | Pathway Performance Coach (Remote)