12 Women's Rugby Players to Follow for the 2025 Season and Beyond
Get to know the athletes of the Women's Elite Rugby (WER)—which started its inaugural season this month.
From the WNBA and the NWSL to track and field stars, women athletes are dominating the world of sports, and there’s no signs of slowing down anytime soon. One sport in particular that’s made headlines in recent years, thanks to dominant players like Ilona Maher and their first-ever medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is rugby.
While it's been a popular sport around the world for some time now, the first professional women’s rugby league is finally in motion. Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) was spearheaded by the Women’s Premier League, which is a player-run-and-operated amateur league that’s been in the U.S. for around 50 years. WER provides rugby players to compete at the professional level and get paid.
If you’re unfamiliar with WER, here’s a quick breakdown of the league: There are six teams (Boston Banshees, New York Exiles, Chicago Tempest, Minneapolis T.C. Gemini, Denver Onyx, and San Francisco Bay Breakers), and each match will feature a home and away format that will be played on Saturdays, Sundays, and some Fridays. If you’re interested in attending a WER match, general admission tickets start at $25 and can be purchased on the Women’s Elite Rugby website.
The season just kicked off on March 22, and the inaugural rosters are packed with some pretty impressive athletes. With the first matches underway, there's no better time than now to get acquainted with some of the incredibly talented rugby players competing in the WER’s inaugural season. Ahead, 10 women's rugby players you need to be following on Instagram, like, yesterday.
Cienna Jordan
Cienna Jordan, a wing and fullback from Carmel, Indiana, will be a key player for WER's Chicago Tempest this upcoming season. The athlete attended University College London and has a deep resume, playing for the Chicago North Shore, Chicago Green and Gold, Atlantis, USA Rugby, and the Pittsburgh Steeltoes.
On the Chicago Tempest's Instagram, they introduced Cienna in a post, where she said her motto is, "I can do anything and be anything; all it takes is 15 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it."
Rachel Ehrecke
Rachel Ehrecke, a member of the Denver Onyx, plays the flanker position as well as the lock. She's from Clive, Iowa and attended Penn State. Her experience is vast—she's played for various teams, including the Colorado Gray Wolves, Rocky Mountain Magic, DMP Sharks, and the USA Eagles.
Her motto? "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
Emma Farnan
Emma Farnan is a force entering the WER league with momentum. Playing fullback, wing, and center, she's more than ready to tear up the field with her Chicago Tempest teammates this season. She's played for the Chicago North Shore, Atlantis, and Southern Headliners. The Bay Shore, New York native attended the University of Norte Dame and has a PhD in Aerospace Engineering (casual) and is an award-winning sports photographer, according to the teams introductory Instagram post.
Paige Stathopoulos
Joining the Boston Banshees this season is Massachusetts native Paige Stathopoulos. As a graduate of Boston University, it's a no-brainer that the athlete is the perfect player to bring the energy of the sports-loving city to the new league. Her experience is as impressive as her skills on the field. She's been a member of USA Rugby, Beantown RFC, Northeast Academy, Boston Women's Rec, and Glendale Merlins.
Rachel Johnson
Rachel Johnson fell in love with the game of rugby during her time in college at the Portland State University. Since then, the Oregon native has won a National Championship in 2014 with Oregon Rugby and added a Club Sevens Dream Team nomination in 2016. Playing the flanker position, she's also become the Women's Premier League Top Try Scorer and was named to the Women's Premier League Dream Team. What's more, she's even won a National Championship with USA Touch Rugby. The WER Denver Onyx player earned her first cap with the U.S. Women's National Team 15s in in November of 2018, and she's even tapped into the coaching side of the sport, serving as head coach of Reed College program.
Matilda Kocaj
The New York Exiles wouldn't be complete without Matilda Kocaj. The New York native plays the wing and center positions, and has competed all over the country for teams like the New York Rugby Club, SoCal Loggerheads, and Northeast Academy. Her elite skills will make this NY team a tough one to beat.
Marisa Hall
Marisa Hall is expected to bring versatility and speed to the T.C. Gemini. Originally from Cottage Grove Minnesota, the athlete dominates the field in the lock/flanker positions. While her career has been filled with significant injuries, she's back and better than ever. Fans of the Gemini will love rooting for her perseverance and drive to win this season.
Emily Henrich
This New York native is ready to bring her rugby skills to Boston as a center and wing. Emily Henrich has experience with USA Rugby, Beantown RFC, and the Leicester Tigers based in England. Her commitment to this team comes about two years after tearing her ACL while playing with the USA Rugby team.
Jade McGrath
Jade McGrath is ready to shine in the California sun, competing with the Bay Breakers. As a center, Jade has excelled on each team she's played for: Scion Rugby, Galaxy Touch Rugby, All Blues Rugby, Boston Women's RFC, DC Furies, and the Rocky Mountain Experts. She's served as a captain for almost every team she's been a part of, and will be a vital component in her new teams success.
Misha Green-Yotts
Member of the Exiles, Misha Green-Yotts is a second-row powerhouse you'll want to keep your eye on this season. Playing the flanker and lock positions, the New York native has excelled all throughout her career and played with the New York Rugby Club, Scion Rugby 7s, and Northeast Academy 7s. Rugby isn't the only sport she's made her mark in, the athlete played four years of basketball in college before transitioning to lacrosse and then rugby.
Cassidy Bargell
Harvard alum Cassidy Bargell is a dynamic athlete waiting to make her mark in the inaugural WER season. Playing the scrum-half position, Cassidy feeds the ball like no other, making her a dynamic pick for the Boston Banshees. She's played for USA Rugby, Beantown RFC, and the USA Development Pathways.
Erica Coulibaly
Erica Coulibaly is a wing and fullback expected to shake things up with her Denver Onyx teammates. She's been unstoppable throughout her career and has a 2024 WPL National Championship MVP with USA Pathways 7s camp and spot at the USA National Rugby League Combine under her belt. As one of the “foundational five” for the WER team, there's no denying that Erica will elevate the teams capabilities on the field.
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