The USA Women’s Sevens team finished in fourth place at the HSBC Sevens World Championship in Los Angeles, narrowly missing out on the Bronze medal after a hard-fought battle against Canada. The home team, supported by an enthusiastic crowd throughout the event, ended the 2024-2025 series in sixth place overall. Despite their valiant effort, the USA Women could not secure a podium finish, but the performance demonstrated their resilience and commitment as they build for the future.
USA Women’s Sevens Display Resilience and Teamwork Throughout the Tournament
The USA Women’s Sevens team began the championship with a strong performance in the pool stages. Their first match against France was an energetic display of determination, led by Sammy Sullivan, who scored an early try after a quick tap. Ariana Ramsey’s speed and agility added a second try, and despite a late try from France, the USA maintained composure. A key moment came when Nia Toliver made a critical defensive play with a counter-ruck to win back possession, setting the tone for the rest of the game. In the final minutes, Ashley Cowdrey, making her debut, assisted Ramsey for a decisive try, securing a 21-5 victory for the USA.
In their second pool match against Australia, the USA faced a tougher challenge. After Australia scored two early tries, the USA responded with resilience. Kristi Kirshe scored a try under the posts, and the team leveled the score at halftime thanks to a series of quick passes that led to another try by Ramsey. However, after the restart, Australia regained the lead, and a yellow card for Ramsey stretched the American defense, allowing Australia to extend their advantage. The USA was unable to overcome this setback, losing 12-33.
The USA Women rebounded in their third pool match against Fiji. Taking advantage of an early yellow card for Fiji, Ramsey intercepted a pass and sprinted clear to score the opening try. Nia Toliver continued the momentum with a powerful try, and both players added another try each to extend the lead. Despite a late rally from Fiji, with three quick tries, the USA Women held firm, with Su Adegoke sealing the win with a try at the final buzzer, securing a 31-19 victory.
USA Women Earn Spot in Cup Semi-Final Despite Tough Losses
With two wins and one loss in the pool stages, the USA secured a spot in the Cup semi-finals against top-ranked New Zealand. The Americans started strong, with Sarah Levy breaking away and passing to Ramsey, but New Zealand quickly regrouped and struck first with a try by Georgia Miller. The Black Ferns maintained their momentum, scoring two more tries in the second half. The USA showed their fighting spirit, with Nia Toliver crossing the line for a try, but New Zealand’s dominance led to a 34-7 victory for the defending champions.
USA Women Face Canada in Bronze Medal Match, Fall Short
The Bronze medal match against Canada proved to be another tough challenge for the USA Women. The home crowd’s chants of “U-S-A” fueled the American team’s energy. The match began with a well-executed lineout that led to a try from Sariah Ibarra, who powered through the Canadian defense. However, Ibarra’s yellow card for going off her feet allowed Canada to capitalize on the overlap and score two quick tries. Canada added a third try at the end of the first half, and after the restart, they scored once more. Despite a strong defensive effort from the USA, Canada sealed the win with a final try, leaving the USA Women to finish in fourth place with a 7-27 loss.
USA Women’s Sevens Head Coach and Captain Reflect on Season
Head Coach Emilie Bydwell expressed pride in the team’s performance throughout the season. She mentioned that the season had many highs and lows, but the team grew stronger through these challenges. The USA Women’s Sevens team was able to reclaim its identity as “Highwomen,” with a focus on embodying their values and inspiring the community during this tournament.
Captain Kristi Kirshe highlighted the team’s growth over the season. She explained that the season was a foundation year, with many debutants contributing to the team’s success. Despite the challenges, the team has learned valuable lessons and is in a great position to build for the future.
Looking Ahead: Building a Strong Future for USA Women’s Sevens
Despite not reaching the podium, the USA Women’s Sevens team has shown great potential for the future. This season was marked by growth and learning, with many new faces contributing to the team’s success. As the team continues to build on its foundation, they will look ahead to the next phase of the series with optimism and determination.
With a strong mix of experienced players and debutants, the USA Women’s Sevens team is setting its sights on future success. As the 2024-2025 season draws to a close, the team is focused on further developing its core values and building the next generation of players.
USA Women’s Sevens Roster – Los Angeles Tournament
- Ariana Ramsey (14 HSBC tournaments)
- Kayla Canett (VC) (36 HSBC tournaments)
- Alena Olsen (31 HSBC tournaments)
- Kristi Kirshe (C) (30 HSBC tournaments)
- Sarah Levy (14 HSBC tournaments)
- Jess Lu (5 HSBC tournaments)
- Autumn LoCicero (7 HSBC tournaments)
- Sammy Sullivan (17 HSBC tournaments)
- Su Adegoke (7 HSBC tournaments)
- Ashley Cowdrey (1 HSBC tournament)
- Sariah Ibarra (7 HSBC tournaments)
- Tessa Hann (3 HSBC tournaments)
- Nia Toliver (6 HSBC tournaments)
USA Women’s Sevens Staff
- Emilie Bydwell | Head Coach
- Zack Test | Assistant Coach
- Trey Ford | Head of Athletic Performance
- Nicole Titmas | Manager of Medical Services; Head Athletic Trainer
- Peter Haberl | Sport Psychologist
- Liz Strohecker | Head of Operations – Sevens
USA Women’s Sevens Results at the HSBC Sevens World Championship – Los Angeles
- USA vs France | 21-5 (Win)
- Tries: S. Sullivan, A. Ramsey (2)
- Conversions: K. Canett (2), A. Cowdrey
- USA vs Australia | 12-33 (Loss)
- Tries: K. Kirshe, A. Ramsey
- Conversion: K. Canett
- USA vs Fiji | 31-19 (Win)
- Tries: A. Ramsey (2), N. Toliver (2), S. Adegoke
- Conversions: K. Canett (2), S. Ibarra
- USA vs New Zealand | 7-34 (Loss)
- Tries: N. Toliver
- Conversion: A. Cowdrey
- USA vs Canada | 7-27 (Loss)
