USA Women Control Day One in Paris

07.28.2024

The USA women have secured a quarterfinal spot after two fairly comprehensive victories Sunday in Paris.

This was the opening day of women’s Rugby 7s competition in the 2024 Olympics and the USA has made it clear they are chasing a gold medal.

Whether that happens or not remains to be seen but what the Eagles did do on Sunday was take control of games they were expected to win.

Not that weren’t hiccups. Japan, in fact, scored first after a rather sloppy guard around the ruck from the USA. And Brazil made it 5-5 well into the first half. But in the end it was USA 36 Japan 7, and USA 24 Brazil 5.

The Eagles responded almost immediately to Japan’s try with Sarah Levy just sliding between two defenders. She had Ariana Ramsey with her but Ramsey was just yelling at her to keep going, which she did.

Kristi Kirshe’s aggressive running also exposed the Japanese, and the USA started to play with confidence. Both Sorensen Award winners on the team, Ilona Maher and Spiff Sedrick, scored well-taken tries from long range. Kirshe scored two, and Sam Sullivan capped off a nice team movement.

See highlights here>>

Against Brazil, the Eagles seemed to be set to win comfortably, and a powerful charge down the tramlines from Alev Kelter seemed to set them up for that. But Brazil looked to challenge the USA by kicking through or over, and that got them close. Brazil might have scored except play was stopped for a worrying injury to Bianca Silva.

In fact, before play was whistled up Kelter stopped playing to attend to Silva and call for medical help, a classic piece of rugby sportsmanship. Brazil scored right after, but the USA took the momentum back after that. A nice cutback from Sullivan made it 12-5 (with Kelter’s conversion) at halftime, and then the duo of Maher and, at full time, Sedrick, raced in to finish it off.

See highlights here>>

So, job done, two wins, but some work to do. France dominated in their games, not giving up a point to Brazil or Japan. USA plays France Monday morning at 9:30AM ET.

Also looking good is Australia, paced by seven tries from Madison Levi as they put South Africa and Great Britain to the sword. New Zealand also impressed with big wins over China and Canada. The big surprise is China, which already beat Fiji and could make the quarters . Great Britain’s win over Ireland puts them in good shape for the top eight.

The way it looks right now, your seeding (with, of course, a game left for everyone) would be:

1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. USA or France
4. USA or France
5. Great Britain
6. Canada
7. Ireland
8. China

If the USA loses to or ties France, and our predictions hold, then it’s a rematch of that heartbreaking game with Team GB in the quarterfinals.