The new professional women's competition in the USA, Women’s Elite Rugby, has announced that its six teams have each named five "foundational" players to their rosters.
The WER 2025 season will kick off in March.
This announcement is sort of like an invitation to a party, wherein an invitee asks "OK, so who else is going?" By naming 30 players to serve as the core of the teams' rosters, WER establishes some key legitimacy.
"We are thrilled to announce the foundational five players for each of our six market teams," said WER President Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf. "Our head coaches selected foundational players of the highest caliber and talent in terms of on pitch play and expertise but also their off pitch leadership and community connection to lead their teams this season. Additionally, these players have an enduring commitment to the game of rugby and continue to work to grow the game here at WER and beyond.”
Boston Banshees
Head Coach Kittery Ruiz has named the following players:
Cassidy Bargell, scrumhalf. Played HS rugby at Summit HS before playing for Harvard and sparking them to a 2019 NIRA championship. A Sorensen Award finalist, Bargell recently earned her first USA cap.
Yejadai Dunn, loose forward. An All American for Dartmouth in 2014, Dunn was named to the USA touring squad in 2023. She has been a longtime standout for the Beantown team in WPL.
Emily Henrich, center/wing. Henrich played for Orchard Park in New York state as a high schooler and moved on to play for Dartmouth. She was the MA Sorensen Award winner in the spring of 2019 after leading Dartmouth to a NIRA title. Injuries undercut some of her time at Dartmouth but she was still able to be capped by the USA and remains an Eagle now.
Paige Stathopoulos, hooker. A local as she is from East Sandwich, Mass., on Cape Cod, Stathopoulos was a standout for Boston University and has since been a longtime player for Beantown. She earned her first of 10 USA caps in 2023.
Akweley Okine, prop, hooker. Okine was an MVP for the West Chester HS team in Pennsylvania and then moved on to be a key performer for Harvard. She went on to coach at Harvard.
Chicago Tempest
Head Coach Bryan Colbridge has named the following players:
Anabel Diaz, prop. A longtime Chicago Lions, Diaz is a Mexican international player.
Emma Farnan, center. Took up rugby with the University of Notre Dame women's team. Was born male and started competing in women's sports as a graduate student.
Cienna Jordan, back. Played for University College London, but was a crossover from track and basketball (see more about Jordan on Scrumhalf Connection). Is in the US Army reserves.
Betty Nguyen, wing/fullback. Played for both Chicago North Shore and Chicago Lions. She, like many of the players mentioned here, is also a coach.
Kadie Sanford, forward. We can only call Sanford a "forward" because she has suited up for Chicago North Shore as a prop, lock, and flanker. She played for University of Michigan and has been named to the USA Hawks national rugby league team to play in Las Vegas later this year.
Denver Onyx
Head Coach Sarah Chobot has named the following players:
Erica Coulibaly, wing. Played for Iowa and was then MVP of the WPL final for the Grey Wolves. She is a USA 7s prospect (see more on The Rugby Breakdown).
Rachel Ehrecke, flanker. Played for West Des Moines HS and then Penn State. She is an international-level flanker and has been capped 16 times by the USA.
McKenzie Hawkins, flyhalf. The 2018 MA Sorensen Award-winner while at Lindenwood, Hawkins led the Lions for multiple national titles and is a regular in the #10 jersey for the USA.
Maya Learned, prop. Started playing rugby as a high-schooler with Glendale in Colorado, and moved on to play for and captain Harvard. She was a USA age-grader and has earned 15 caps for the USA.
Tahna Wilfley, back. Wilfley is one of the youngest players on this list. She played for Eagle Impact Rugby Academy and quickly moved up to play for the Colorado Grey Wolves. She is the daughter of former USA Men's Eagle Link Wilfley.
