Late on 18 February TC Gemini (Minneapolis-St Paul) became what I thought was the first of the six WER teams to announce their full squad. Little did I know!
Forwards: Emerson Allen, Sam Brackett, Brooke Doerscher, Ali Gillberg, Marisa Hall, Abbey Jacobs, Emilee Jalosuo, Emily Juhl, Alivia Leatherman, Lucy Leatherman, Emily Mack, Katrina Nunes, Antonina O’Neill, Hannah Pfersch, Josie Rogers, Tara Viken, Mikey Williams (17)
Backs: Sam Black, Ciara Clawson, Isabelle Currie, Bianca Curtis, Kailynn Hampton, Maggie Kleyer, Kayla Lawson, Desiree Leaupepe, Serena Liu, Joana Marrese, Tatyana Reed, Trinity Todd (12)
Just one name was familiar to me, Alivia Leatherman, who has been playing with great success in the front row for Trailfinders this season. And there’s a second Leatherman in the line-up!
I had been preparing another piece on the WER, along the lines: ’This great new American enterprise is due next month. News drips out very slowly, which is most unAmerican.’
Each team’s Foundational Five Players were announced at the start of the month. That’s 30 players out of a basic 138 needed to complete the six teams. And rosters will be much bigger again, as Gemini prove above.
Two weeks ago a local report stated that Bay Breakers hadn’t yet fixed a home venue. Fans in Chicago wonder where Tempest will play. It may come down to money; Soldier Field would prove too expensive. You can buy your New York Exiles Trucker hat and your Denver Onyx T-Shirt, but no rosters?
Well, now the dam has burst, and all six franchises have announced their full rosters:
Denver Onyx
Forwards: Kapoina Bailey, Jeanna Beard, Tahlia Brody, Sheila Decker, Rachel Ehrecke, Saher Hamdan, Carson Hann, Rachel Johnson, Laura LaVigne, Maya Learned, Hannah Long, Evie Oglesby, Gabby Rivera, Gianna Solomon, Amy Spafford, Hallie Taufoou
Backs: Alessandra Bender Cruz, Kristin Bitter, KB Slaughter, Monique Coffey, Erica Coulibaly, Denali Graham, McKenzie Hawkins, Kianna Lally, Kelsie O’Brien, Justine Perl, Julie Tordonato, Carly Waters, Tahna Wilfley
PWR watchers will spot the names of Rachel Johnson, Carly Waters, Maya Learned, Tahlia Brody, Hallie Taufoou and McKenzie Hawkins, Eagles’ No 10. Things are looking up!
Bay Breakers
Forwards: Dana Alimena, Isabela Gonzalez Berazueta Burgos, Hope Cooper, Elena Edwards, Paris Hart, Ari Jurkowski, Sophia Lamphier, Celine Liulamaga, Monica Marquez, Roz Okapara, Roxelle Thomas, Cassandra Tong, Kathryn Treder, Mona Lisa Tupou, Sierra Watkins, Tonya Wessman, Abby Vogel
Backs: Olivia Bernadel-Huey, Naomi Carrillo, Kathryn Clark, Evan Hoese, Leyla Alev Kelter, Shelby Lin, Miriama Marawa, Bulou Mataitoga, Jade McGrath, Aly Namosimalua, Aimee Ramos, Kristen Siano, Taina Tukuafu
Alev Kelter!
Boston Banshees
Forwards: Eliza Altobelli, Catie Benson, Salma Bezzat, Yeja Dunn, Lauren Ferridge, Jenny Kronish, Nickky Nguyen, Q Okine, Angie Owen, Genevieve Quirion, Kaitlyn Sosa, Paige Stathopoulos, Shelby Vance, Caitlin Weigel, Oliver Wright
Backs: Natalie Armatage, Cassidy Bargell, Ashley Cowdrey, Morgan Cunningham, Rachael Harkavy, Emily Henrich, Jenni Laferriere, Katie Lohaus, Alexandra Pipkin, Emma Santosuosso, Abbey Savin, Amanda Schweitzer
Chicago Tempest
Forwards: Ubaida Ahmed, Abby Albrecht, Sarah (Esther) Anderson, Ilene Andrade, Kit Buzby, Sarah Curvin, Anabel Diaz, Tito Harrison, Christen Jackson, Narcisse Jordan, Katie Lamont, Amaryha McGowan, Ashley Mencke, Olga Niyibizi, Ellie Reiter, Kadie Sanford, Jayla Twitty
Backs: Isla Alejandro, MarCaya Bailous, Hali Deters, Jess Dombrowski, Erika Farias, Emma Farnan, Nicole Fisch, Lauren Kuffel, Betty Nguyen, Indigo Niznik-Darden, Adriana Mendoza Silva, Brooke Walklate, Taylor White
New York Exiles
Forwards: Kristin Aliberto, Emily Brower, Nic Carroll, Adriana Castillo, Gio Cruz, Justina DeBruzzi, Misha Green-Yotts, Kayla Hunkin-Clark, Corina Kaiser, Faith Morley, Cam Osses, Caoimhe O’Sullivan Roche, Jessie Ruiz, Cari Pick, Daisy Titus
Backs: Liz Berridge, Scout Cheeks, Chloe Correia, Tess Feury, Sophie Frick, Jade Greenfield, Matilda Kocaj, Jordyn Marlin, Sarah Minahan, Congetta “Jetta” Owens, Gabrielle Pennino, Nikki Richardson, Shamira Robles, Jenn Salomon-Clayton, Denisse Zambon Regalado
So there we have it. A lot of unfamiliar names to non-Americans, but equally a large number of capped Eagles and players well versed in the PWR. But not all of them: no Kate Zackary, no Hope Rogers, no Olivia Ortiz for example, and they aren’t being held back by clubs engaged in coming semi-finals.
The question of logistics arises again. There are vast distances between the six centres, but equally, players may live a long way from their own home base. That is going to take some sorting out.
The rest of the rugby world will be wondering how big an effect this will have. Can we see the day when the tide turns; when ambitious players are flocking to the States to improve their game? For the moment the answer is a firm no. There isn’t the depth in quality and numbers of coaching staff, and other refinements available in England and France aren’t catered for there. But time changes.
