USA RUGBY – The top collegiate and club players from across the country will assemble under the USA Women’s U23s banner in Brazil, June 3-7 for the Americas Rugby Trophy. The squad of 26, led by Head Coach Katie Dowty, features some returning and new pathway names as they compete against senior international teams from Brazil and Colombia.
The South America series is the first of many assemblies for the Women’s U23s this summer, a competition that will supply invaluable experience in preparing, playing and analyzing an international tour. The team kicks off its Americas Rugby Trophy tour with a matchup against hosts Brazil on June 3 at Nicolau Alayon Stadium. They’ll then go on to play Colombia on June 7 at Nogueirão Stadium. All matches will be live-streamed on Brasil Rugby YouTube.
“It is critical for promising young players to be exposed to the pace, physicality, and level of detail required at the international level,” Dowty told USA Rugby. “Most critically, our rising Eagles need more experience playing under pressure and we fully expect Brazil and Colombia to bring that. For our veterans, this is a chance to take the reins and prove their ability to play at pace, manage pressure, and dictate the game. For our younger players, it will be eye-opening and inspiring exposure to the demands of the international game – and we fully expect them all to bring a new level of dynamism to our play that makes us very excited about the future.”
Twenty-six players head to Brazil as part of the USA squad, with a few capped Eagles included in Kristin Bitter, Emily Henrich and Keia Mae Sagapolu. Henrich rejoins the USA Rugby ranks following an extensive injury recovery and solid season with Dartmouth. Sagapolu also joins the assembly off a stellar collegiate season that won her the 2023 MA Sorensen Award. Six sevens stars will also jump right from the USA Women’s Falcons Sevens squad competing at NextGen 7s in Langford, B.C., Canada last weekend. The group also includes two high schoolers in Olivia and Reece Woods, who graduate from the Eagle Mustangs (Idaho) this year.
“This squad is electric, full of players identified as having the potential to make an impact for the USA at the senior international level – either this World Cup cycle or the next,” Dowty added. “We will need to come together quickly as a group to harness their incredible collective talent, so we will be looking for the team to step up as communicators, relationship builders, and architects of the game.”
USA Women’s U23s Roster | 2023 Women’s Americas Rugby Trophy
| NAME | SCHOOL/CLUB |
|---|---|
| Susan Adegoke | Life University |
| Emerson Allen | Railway Union (Ireland) |
| Kapoina Bailey | Lindenwood University |
| Kristin Bitter | Dartmouth College |
| Natalie Bjorklund | Rhinos Academy |
| Samantha Brackett | Rhinos Academy |
| Alyssa Cunningham | Sacred Heart University |
| Lauren Ferridge | Dartmouth College |
| Cameron Fields | Harvard University |
| Tessa Hann | Central Washington University |
| Emily Henrich | Dartmouth College |
| Abbey Jacobs | Univ. Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
| Alivia Leatherman | Notre Dame College |
| Autumn LoCicero | Life University |
| Tiahna Padilla | Harvard University |
| Keia Mae Sagapolu | Central Washington University |
| Sadie Schier | Dartmouth College |
| Paluvavau Freda Tafuna | Lindenwood University |
| Queenette Toomalatai | Rhinos Academy |
| Taina Tukuafu | Lindenwood University |
| Monalisa Tupou | East Palo Alto/Life West |
| Sereana Vulaono | Chicago Lions |
| Anna Van Dyk | Quinnipiac University |
| Alex Wantlin | Life University |
| Reece Woods | Eagle High School, Idaho |
| Olivia Woods | Eagle High School, Idaho |
USA Women’s U23s Traveling Staff
Head Coach | Katie Dowty
Assistant Coach | Mel Denham
Assistant Coach | Lisa Jackson
Team Manager | Tiffany Lopez
Athletic Trainer | Anna Unnasch
USA Women’s U23s Americas Rugby Trophy Schedule
Saturday, June 3
v. Brazil | 2 p.m. ET
Wednesday, June 7
v. Colombia | 9 a.m. ET
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