The USA Rugby PanAm Games selection committee have finalized the women’s rugby sevens team that will represent Team USA for the first time ever at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, August 16-17 in Asunción, Paraguay.
The 2025 Junior Pan American Games will be broadcast live on the Panam Sports Channel. You can watch the games on their website or via their mobile app.
These selections were made off the back of a rigorous week-long camp held at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, the world-class training site for USA Rugby sevens programs. The camp featured intensive training sessions, tactical reviews, and competitive scrimmages, all designed to assess each player's skills and begin the crucial process of fostering a cohesive team unit. This immersive experience offered the athletes a valuable taste of high-performance training during a critical phase of team selection.
"We are beyond excited to announce the roster that will represent Team USA at the Junior Pan American Games for Rugby Sevens in August," said Head Coach Irene Gardner, "These athletes have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their own development over the past year in their college or club programs. This was showcased last week at the selections camp and at High Performance camps earlier this year."
“This group of players has harnessed the power of work ethic, resilience, and a true joy for the game. Their collective experience at this early stage in their careers is remarkable and reflects an unwavering commitment to their development. They have embraced the journey and now have the opportunity to take another historic step for USA Rugby by becoming the first American rugby team to represent Team USA at the Junior Pan American Games."
Coach Gardner emphasized the importance of this event for the athletes' careers, "Involvement in a multi-sport international event is significant in these athletes' continued trajectory within the USA Rugby Pathway and Eagles teams."
The selected athletes will participate in a pre-competition camp in Chula Vista from August 9-11, before traveling to Asunción, Paraguay, on August 12.
The selections were made by the Junior Pan Am Games Selection Committee, comprised of General Manager of High Performance Tamara Sheppard, Qualified 7s Female Athlete Representative Victoria Folayan, Qualified 7s Male Athlete Representative Brett Thompson, Head Coach of the USA National Pathway Women’s Sevens Team Irene Gardner, and Assistant Coach of the USA National Pathway Women’s Sevens Team Benjamin Pinkelman.
The USA Men’s Sevens will not compete in the Junior Pan American Games this year with resources focused on residency preparation for 2026.
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Paola Arredondo Almeida | Dartmouth College |
| Kiyanah Edwards (C) | American International College |
| Kori Fields | Long Island University |
| Annie Henrich | Dartmouth College |
| Marley Larkin | Dartmouth College |
| Florinalaulaau Liufau | Belmont Shore |
| Lionala Mayorga | At Large |
| Jayna Schalesky | UC Santa Barbara |
| Fane Tausinga | Majestics (Utah) |
| Vasiti Turagavou (C) | Dartmouth College |
| Annabella Vogel | Life University |
| Tahna Wilfley | Colorado Grey Wolves |
| Chloe DeLeon | West Point |
| Katija Crawford | Dartmouth College |
| Olivia Frisby | Life University |
| Teagan Barth | Summit High School |
| Madelyn Hubbell | Harvard University |
Sat, Aug 16
vs Paraguay 9:36a ET
vs Mexico 2:36p ET
vs Brazil 5:47p ET
Watch live on the Panam Sports Channel, or on their website or via their mobile app.
Irene Gardner | Head Coach
Ben Pinkelman | Assistant Coach
Maria Adams | Team Manager
Jackie Rodriguez | Athletic Trainer
