The USA Women’s Eagles closed their 2026 Pacific Four Series campaign in Chicago tonight, dropping the finale to Canada, 50-12.
The Eagles started strong with quick phases and first points, but scrum and set piece struggles gave Canada the winning opportunities in the second half, leading to a lopsided loss. Canada being third-ranked in the world was expected to be a challenge, but some flashes of light and lessons showed for this young, eager Women’s Eagles team who can walk away encouraged after their first tour of the Rugby World Cup cycle.
Key takeaways from the match will be the youth movement at the scrumhalf and flyhalf positions, as Head Coach Jack Hanratty gave the keys to a duo of under U20s in Abigail Paton and Bella Vogel. Sacred Heart standout, Olivia Woods also came in off the bench for her international debut.
Scrum discipline will also be a topic of review following the final match, as Canada won the set piece battle. Hanratty addressed it post-match, “There is a saying - no scrum, no win. We predominantly came second in that area, it’s a massive platform that we need to win to maintain possession. There is a reason why Canada won a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup last year.
"We’re in a reset year, and sometimes that gives you an excuse to say we’re young, but tonight our scrum wasn’t good enough. We made a promise to each other that if we do lose and we say why we lost; and it can become the focus areas. You can’t bring in magic dust and make the scrum better; you have to work at it and be challenged in training, then you have to play against high level teams. For us, we’re just trying to get more of these opportunities to play high level so we can learn and feel what it’s like to keep growing with success.”
Hope Rogers once again continued to be an early spark, scoring the opening try for the third straight match and each of her Pacific Four Series starts. Rogers’ try came after the USA halted a Canada strike in their own end, to then fight back meters over a 7+ minute possession back downfield. Once near the tryline, Rogers was able to nudge the ball over for the lead followed by a Bella Vogel conversion. As play continued, the USA did well early to contain Canada from mounting an attack until two scrums put the Eagles on the back foot. Both scrums to Canada gave them tries. While the first was called back by TMO, the next pushed over to even the score 7-7.
Flanker Hann Humphreys continued to make their mark in the fifteens game, striking twice tonight in the tryzone. Unfortunately, TMO and the slightest knock on kept points off the board and Humphreys from their first test match try.
Halftime was manageable for the USA, coming back for the second act only trailing 7-19, but the Canadian offense found its stride, tallying 31 points. The USA rhythm was mixed for the final 40 minutes, with a highlight exception from Emily Henrich who broke the line for a try. About three hours southeast from Chicago in Indianapolis, players from Humphreys and Henrich’s alma mater Dartmouth watched and cheered together as they get ready to defend their title tomorrow during the CRAA Women’s College 7s National Championships. Henrich’s try coming in the 78th minute would be the last flash from the match, as Canada watched the seconds tick away to a 50-12 victory.
For the USA, it was a massive step forward in their new era under Hanratty, proving they have the pace, youth, and IQ to go show up against the world’s best. The foundation has been established in this first chapter of the new cycle.
Looking back on the tour, Captain Erica Jarrell-Searcy noted, “This program has been urning to express themselves on the pitch, and I think that’s really showing through. Jack [Hanratty] has brought in a really special culture that would be hard to walk away from. It’s something that we have done intentionally and have stepped into, and I think’s it starting to show on and off the pitch.”
The USA Women’s Eagles will now break to their clubs both abroad and here in the United States. With the Women’s Elite Rugby season officially kicking off next week. Club play will only be a short period however, ahead of the next international tour to South Africa July 4th and 11th.
