The 2025 HSBC SVNS Series begins next weekend, and the USA Rugby Women’s 7s Team has named the travel roster for the opening two rounds in Dubai, UAE (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) and Cape Town, South Africa (Dec. 7-8). All games will be live-streamed for free on RugbyPass TV.
The 13-player roster includes four Paris Olympians in co-captains Alena Olsen and Kayla Canett, Ari Ramsey and Sarah Levy. Fellow bronze medal-winning teammates Kristi Kirshe and Spiff Sedrick will rejoin the squad in the new year, while Ilona Maher will circle back to Chula Vista while she attempts to make the 15s Rugby World Cup 2025 squad. Kirshe and Maher were just named to the 2024 World Rugby Women’s 7s Dream Team.
Five players are set for their first USA 7s cap: Su Adegoke, Hann Humphreys, Sariah Ibarra, Autumn LoCicero and Alyssa Porter. Nia Toliver is a capped 7s Eagle and competed at the 2020 Olympics (contested in 2021), but Dubai will mark the SoCal native’s first HSBC SVNS Series appearance. Jess Lu, Kaylen Thomas and Rachel Strasdas link these two distinct groups. They’re not quite veterans, nor newcomers, but returning USA 7s residents with international experience.
PR7s’ Monique Coffey (l) and USA’s Ari Ramsey (r) in Portland
Eleven of the aforementioned players featured on the USA team that competed in the PR7s All-Star Tournament in Portland, Ore., last weekend. The young group got two runouts against the PR7s all-stars and Canada, which was a nice test after a six-week pre-season.
“As a team we are looking to play a fast, dynamic and dictative game; and the group has all the attributes required to do that,” USA Women’s 7s Head Coach Emilie Bydwell said. “It will take time for us to gel and adapt to the level that the SVNS offers up, so we will focus on continuing to take a brick-by-brick approach, fortifying our foundations and emphasizing the opportunities for our players to express their unique strengths.”
In Dubai, the USA will compete in Pool B against Great Britain (12:22 a.m. ET), Spain (2:59 a.m. ET) and France (7:51 a.m. ET) on Nov. 30. The Cup quarterfinals will begin Sunday, Dec. 1 at 12:20 a.m. ET. Pools for Cape Town will be decided after the conclusion of Dubai.
“While it’s always tempting to think about the outcome, as a group we understand that at this stage the process is more important and how we show up with the intent and attention to grow with every success and challenge is critical,” Bydwell closed. “That is what we will look to do across the first two tournaments of the season.”
USA WOMEN’S 7s TEAM
Jersey #. Player – # HSBC SVNS caps
1. Ariana Ramsey – 7
3. Kayla Canett (C) – 29
6. Alena Olsen (C) – 24
13. Sarah Levy – 11
15. Rachel Strasdas – 1
16. Jess Lu – 1
19. Kaylen Thomas – 2
20. Autumn LoCicero – 0
24. Su Adegoke – 0
28. Sariah Ibarra – 0
29. Hann Humphreys – 0
32. Alyssa Porter – 0
33. Nia Toliver – 0
STAFF
Emilie Bydwell | Head Coach
Zack Test | Assistant Coach
Trey Ford | Head of Athletic Performance
Nicole Titmas | Athletic Trainer
Liz Strohecker | Head of Operations – Sevens