Silver medal and high potential on display for USA Women’s Sevens in Cape Town

The USA Women’s Sevens put their team values and determination on full display in Cape Town, at the second SVNS stop of the season. An appearance in the cup final and standout tries against New Zealand by newcomers Nia Toliver and Alyssa Porter showed the high potential the team has as they build not only toward the World Championship in Los Angeles next spring but LA 2028. 

All teams in Cape Town faced a test this weekend as the tournament saw a new format with four pools that fed straight into semifinals. With quarterfinals eliminated and only the top of each pool moving on, it was a cutthroat challenge. But the Eagles proved they were up for it, winning their pool and defeating Australia to take a ride to their first cup final of the season. A second place finish showed what the team can do when they have a strong connection and play to each other’s strengths, which will make for an exciting season. 

Head Coach Emilie Bydwell recapped the last two tournaments, "I am so proud of the team and how they not only have attacked the last two weeks, but how they’ve attacked the last two months that we have been together. Early in preseason we talked about how this year was about forming a team, and building a foundation for our LA 2028 campaign. Our players immediately bought into the process, and into the culture of our team that has been established while also taking the steps to make that culture their own. While it is fantastic to have made a final, what’s more inspiring is how the players continued to stay focused on our process throughout the pressure of competition, working together to reflect and improve over the nine games that we had the opportunity to play. On the field, they not only consistently delivered work ethic, but they showed they have the courage to express their strengths, and while also doing things that are uncomfortable. We will take the holiday period to reload, and everyone is looking forward to get back into camp and building on this foundation together."

The USA started their pool matches against Fiji and were scrambling at the start with early pressure by Fiji. But a yellow card to Fiji gave the Eagles the perfect opportunity to take back possession, and Nia Toliver opened up the scoring in Cape Town with a breakaway try. Fiji tried to respond with a breakaway, but Ariana Ramsey chased down the player to win back the ball, giving Toliver another breakaway score. Fiji worked hard to play physical and slow down the USA ball. But the Eagles stayed quick on attack, and Kaylen Thomas found her way over the try line with the team’s efforts. Another Fiji yellow card allowed the USA to remain dominant, and Alyssa Porter added two more tries (her first series try) to the USA tally, taking the first win of the tournament, 29-0. 

A win against Great Britain was all the Eagles needed to book a ticket to the semifinals. Great Britain were on the front foot first with points, but the Eagles stayed connected and Nia Toliver struck back, shaking off a tackler on the edge and running toward the center of the try zone twice. It was the confidence boost they needed, as the USA looked to be on point on attack and defense, becoming a cohesive unit to get Ariana Ramsey, Kaylen Thomas, and Sarah Levy over the try zone. They conceded only one more try to Great Britain, who looked scrambled through the end of the game as the USA kept up pressure, taking the win and the semifinal ticket, 31-14. 

Finishing at the top of their pool, the Eagles went on to the Cape Town semifinal, where they met Australia for the first time since defeating them for the bronze medal in Paris. Coming off a win in Dubai, Australia had eyes set on another cup final. The first remained nearly scoreless as both teams put in a grind. Australia found the try line first, but Ariana Ramsey struck back with a stop and go to a breakaway for a try under the posts. Australia put up two more tries, and with four minutes left in the game the USA were working hard but unable to crack Aussie defense. It was Nia Toliver who brought back momentum for the Eagles, fending off tacklers to score under the posts, setting Alyssa Porter up for another score. With 20 seconds left and Australia in the lead, the Eagles didn’t give up, channeling the same energy seen in Paris. It was Toliver who shook off more defenders and scored the winning try to book the USA’s ticket to the Cape Town cup final with a 19-24 win. 

Already living their dream, the Eagles headed to a historic cup final against New Zealand. Off the start, Nia Toliver reminded the Black Ferns of her prowess as she broke away for the first try of the match. The Eagles turned around quickly as Alyssa Porter ran around a shaky New Zealand defense for the second USA try. The USA showed to be a force, putting on the defensive pressure but the All Blacks got themselves back into the game, upping the tempo as they went on the attack. In the second half, the Eagles worked to stay connected as New Zealand tried to pick up momentum with a chip. But Ariana Ramsey chased down the ball and New Zealand knocked on before scoring, getting a scrum for the Eagles. The All Blacks reignited their dominance, though, not letting the USA back into the try zone again. But the USA put up a great fight, taking the Cape Town silver medal, 12-26.

The team will head back to the United States as they break for the holiday season. Coming into the new year, they’ll put in the work with eyes on gold as they head to Perth SVNS at the end of January. 

Emilie Bydwell | Head Coach

Zack Test | Assistant Coach

Trey Ford | Head of Athletic Performance

Nicole Titmas | Manager of Medical Services; Head Athletic Trainer

Liz Strohecker | Head of Operations - Sevens

Pool D

v Fiji | 29-0 (W)

TRIES | N. Toliver (2), K. Thomas, A. Porter (2)

CONV | K. Canett (3)

v GBR | 31-14 (W)

TRIES | N. Toliver (2), A. Ramsey, K. Thomas, S. Levy

CONV | K. Canett, S. Ibarra (2)

Knockouts

Semifinals v Australia | 19-24 (W)

TRIES | A. Ramsey, N. Toliver (2), A. Porter

CONV | K. Canett (2)

Final v New Zealand | 12-26 (L) 

TRIES | N. Toliver, A. Porter

CONV | K. Canett