There’s no denying that women’s sports are finally getting their much-deserved interest and recognition. From record-breaking attendance and viewership in women’s basketball, to similar happenings in the NWSL, women’s sports have seen tremendous growth in such a short time and, honestly, it’s about damn time.
Women’s rugby has been no different. In 2023, a championship match between England and France had nearly 59,000 in attendance—making it the most-attended women’s rugby match of all time. Add to that how women’s rugby became one of the hottest topics of the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially with Team USA winning its first-ever medal, and there’s no wonder that a Brand! New! professional women’s rugby league has finally come to America.
The Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), the official name of the league, is set to kick off in March 2025. The league will consist of six teams and was spearheaded by the Women’s Premier League, the player-run and -operated amateur league that’s been in the States for roughly 50 years. The push for a professional women’s rugby league in the United States began in 2022 after a campaign sought to professionalize the sport and therefore pay the athletes competing within it.
If you’re more than ready to see some passing, running, and tackling from the best of the best women rugby players in the U.S., you don’t have to wait too much longer. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about the Women’s Elite Rugby season—including when the first kickoff is, the teams, and how you can watch the matches.
When does the Women’s Elite Rugby season start?
The WER’s inaugural season kicks off on Saturday, March 22. At 4 p.m. ET, the New York Exiles will host the Boston Banshees at the Stadium at Memorial Field.
Then on Sunday, March 23, the Chicago Tempest will host the TC Gemini at the Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium at 1:00 p.m. CT.
Games throughout the remainder of the season will happen on Saturdays and Sundays with some games on Fridays. You can view the full 2025 season schedule here.
What does the league’s format look like?
Throughout the season, each match will feature a home and away format. The league has not yet shared information regarding championship structure, and say they will reveal their championship format at a later date.
What do we know about the Women’s Elite Rugby teams?
There are six teams in the league: Boston Banshees, New York Exiles, Chicago Tempest, Minneapolis, Denver Onyx, and San Francisco Bay Breakers. Here’s a quick look at all of the team’s logos:
Now let’s get into a bit more about each team in the inaugural Women’s Elite rugby season, including who’s on each roster.
Bay Breakers
Located in the Bay Area, the Bay Breakers aim to embody its namesake and harness the power and unpredictable nature of the Pacific Ocean. The team is made up of 30 players and posted their roster on Instagram with the caption, “Your 2025 Breakers team awaits 🌊.”
Hannah Stolba, an experienced coach and former player at the elite level, will coach the Bay Breakers during the league’s first season. “I can’t wait for this year and for folks to see this Breakers team,” Stolba said in a statement. “I’m excited for them to bring fun, fast, aggressive rugby to the Bay Area fans.”
Boston Banshees
This team will bring wails of fury to the WER league. The Boston Banshees represents the city’s rebellious spirit and desire to win. The Boston Banshees has 27 players who were revealed in an Instagram post with the caption, “The 2025 Banshees roster is finally here! Who are you most excited to see play?”
They’ll be coached by Kittery Ruiz, who is looking to create a legacy. “When our players step onto the field, they carry more than just our game plan. They carry the spirit of every woman who ever dreamed of playing professional rugby but never had the chance,” she says. “We’re not just playing games—we’re breaking barriers.”
Chicago Tempest
Composed of 30 players, the Chicago Tempest are a relentless and powerful force that will be a tough competitor. Their colors are lightning yellow and tempest gray, nodding to how their intensity is similar to that of a storm. Chicago shared their full roster on Instagram with the caption, “ROSTER DROP ⚡️ Excited to see this fresh squad take the pitch!”
The squad is coached by Bryan Colbridge, who is “thrilled with the squad we have assembled...with players from around the U.S. and beyond that fit the style of rugby we’re building towards.”
Denver Onyx
The Denver Onyx received its name from Colorado’s black onyx and rose onyx gems, which can be seen in their crest. The team is said to be built on resilience and relentlessness. The Onyx roster is made up of 29 players, with 8 of the athletes being USA National Team members. They unveiled the list of athletes who will be competing for their squad on Instagram. “Presenting the 1st ever Denver Onyx roster!” the caption read.
The team will be led by coach Sarah Chobot, who is “very excited to push this team to play a fun brand of rugby.”
New York Exiles
Built upon the goal to welcome “those who to seek opportunity and to define a new community,” the New York Exiles are ready to compete and tackle the impossible. “We arrive in New York to embody the grit, determination, and resilience of the city and put it on the field,” the team’s page says.
There are 30 players on the team, and all but 7 of them played for the city’s local rugby club. The full roster was shared on the team’s Instagram page with the caption, “The moment you’ve all been waiting for…the New York Exiles 2025 roster!”
Their crest features three hooded people with night navy, liberty, shadow teal, and torch orange—subtle nods to the Statue of Liberty and her torch as well as New York’s other professional women’s teams, like the WNBA’s New York Liberty.
Diego Maquieira has assembled a powerhouse team that is “loaded with a mix of upcoming stars and grizzled vets who are looking to establish an exciting brand of rugby that will make the city proud.”
Twin Cities Gemini
The Twin Cities Gemini represent a unity of mind with unlimited spirit and strength. “The Mississippi river snakes through Minnesota, binding the Twin Cities together with a singular vision: To dominate the rugby field and prove that no force can stand against us,” the team’s page says.
The Twin Cities is made up of 29 players, and nearly half have been part of the local rugby team. The Gemini revealed their inaugural roster on Instagram. “🥁 DRUM ROLL PLEASE. Check out the 2025 roster,” the caption read.
The team will be coached by Sylvia Braaten, who says her players are “hungry and have proven they are ready to put in the work and build this pre-season.”
How can I watch the matches?
If you live in any of the team’s cities, you can attend the matches in person! General admission tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on the Women’s Elite Rugby website.
At this time, WER has not disclosed a broadcasting partner yet as they are finalizing the details ahead of the season. However, the league says they will release these details in the next week or so leading up to the first match.
Where will each team play home games?
- The Bay Breakers will play at the Grape Bowl in Lodi, California.
- The Boston Banshees will play at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts. (But the last three home games of their season will be held at Tidewater Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.)
- Chicago Tempest will play at Northwestern Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.
- Denver Onyx will play at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.
- New York Exiles will play at The Stadium at Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, New York.
- Twin Cities Gemini will play at the TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota.
