Monkey Off Back? USA Women Win 3rd-Place With Emphatic Performance

03.08.2026Elite 7s, Eagles

Ariana Ramsey jumps in on the defensive side. Photo Alex Ho for World Rugby.

Author: Alex Goff

After playing in three straight tournaments in which they finished fourth, the USA women's 7s team got over that particular hump with a solid Day Two in Vancouver to take 3rd.

USA Head Coach Emilie Bydwell and captain Kristi Kirshe had, this week, discussed the issue of going 0-2 on Day Two and how that was something they wanted to avoid.

"We try to be really specific with what we're going to target from one week to the next week, and are aware and recognize what are the things that we can change, and what are the things that we leave until we get back home," Bydwell had said. "It's about, can we understand something marginally better, can we execute technically, can we make sure that, from a tactical leadership standpoint, from a coaching standpoint, that were that we're being really intelligent and specific on what is going to be the adjustments that we're going to make?"

Well they came in with a plan this week to attack on Day Two and be stronger, and they were.

In the semifinal against New Zealand the USA ended up losing 19-12 but were quite unlucky to do so. They took the fight to the Kiwis and made sure they had very little time in which to do anything. New Zealand really did get the rub of the green when it came to those niggly little penalties in the rucks—the Black Ferns 7s didn't get penalized for no tackler release, or in from the side.

That meant that the Eagles had to be especially good, and they were just a little short. Kaylen Thomas's try just before halftime actually put the USA ahead 7-5, with Ashley Cowdrey's conversion. But Jorja Miller's charge right off the second-half kickoff turned things around.

The Eagles had a chance up the middle with an offload from Erica Coulibaly to Kirshe, however Kirshe was charging ahead to quickly the pass was behind her. Had she been able to take it, she would have scored. Instead, Mahina Paul scored for New Zealand, and while Sarah Levy put everything into a long run for a second USA try, they fell just a bit short.

SVNS World Series SVNS World Series Standings March 8, 2026

March 8, 2026

SVNS World Series

OK, that was a loss, but not a blowout.

On came France in the bronze medal game.

Picking yourself up from a devastating loss in order to win something is tough.

"I think it's one of the special things about rugby," said Kirshe this week. "[Having to] turn around and play again two hours later ... is something that does take time to learn how to do."

Against a France team that has, at times, bullied the Americans, the USA team came out aggressive and angry—essentially how they had approached their games against Australia and New Zealand. It paid off, as the Eagles gained a turnover and Ariana Ramsey snaked through half a gap to speed in for the opening try.

France answered quickly via Hada Traore, and then after a decent defensive sequence they fell off a tackle and Marie-Aurelie Castel was in for a 14-7 France lead.

But the Eagles picked themselves up, and one of those players who had learned all the lessons about Day Two took over. Sam Sullivan stood up her opposite, took the outside line, and was in from 50 meters. Tahna Wilfley's conversion tied it at halftime 14-14.

Once again France responded and led 21-14. However, once again Sullivan got in on the action. And excellent, tough carry from Kirshe took two defenders with her, and then the captain popped to her longtime teammate and the US Army Captain took off from her 22. She still has the pace and the stamina, and barely made before almost angrily tossing the ball to Sariah Ibarra for the conversion.

She said something ... we're not sure what it was, but it was probably something like "let's tie this up and go win."

Ibarra slotted the extras. And then, instead of losing in a plucky way, the Americans put the game away. From the kickoff the USA was able to get the ball back, and then when a pass when behind everyone, Thomas swooped in, picked it up, and cut through the over-pursuing French defense. 28-21 USA. And as the game whittled down, Thomas spun and wriggled out of tackles—it was France's turn to be tired on defense—and off she went.

Ibarra converted both and the USA had put an emphatic stamp on the end of their Vancouver campaign, taking third over the French and, maybe, just maybe, shedding one of the monkeys off their backs. They made France run, passing the ball more than three times as often as the French, making France attempt 27 tackles (which is a lot in a 7s game) of which they missed 11. Add to that seven offloads to France's zero, and you've got a team that won the physical battle and the tactical battle, too.

New Zealand defeated Australia 24-17 to win the tournament, and they remain atop the SVNS World Series standings, but the Eagles are doing OK, thank you, getting a bit more of a cushion over France. Now, New York beckons.