Denver Onyx Announces Their Foundational Five Players Ahead of the League’s Inaugural Season

Hallie Martin • February 5, 2025

WRITTEN BY Allison Smith, WER

UNITED STATES— Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), which will be the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States, reveals their foundational five (F5) players for each of the six market teams in preparation for their inaugural season starting in March of this year.

Coming off the announcement of their team names and crests last week, WER continues to build on the momentum and excitement of the league by announcing foundational five players for each team. Each coach drafted five players for their team with the goal to build dynamic and diverse groups that span positions, but also have connections to the city and communities that they will play in. "We are thrilled to announce the foundational five players for each of our six market teams. Our head coaches selected foundational players of the highest caliber and talent in terms of their on pitch play and expertise but also their off pitch leadership and community connection to lead their teams this season. Additionally, these players have an enduring commitment to the game of rugby and continue to work to grow the game here at WER and beyond", said WER President Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf .

Denver head coach Sarah Chobot revealed her foundational five players as Erica “Rica” Coulibaly (Sycamore, IL), Rachel Ehrecke (Clive, IA), McKenzie Hawkins (Maryville, TN), Maya Learned (Denver, CO), and Tahna “T” Wilfley (Denver, CO). In describing her F5 selections, Coach Chobot emphasized key three factors in her decision-making: diversity in positioning, youth, and the fact that her selections are fantastic humans, great teammates, and just a pure joy to be around. Chobot is no stranger to elite competition as the former USA Women’s National Team captain and is currently on staff with the organization, as well as coaching in the former iteration of the league (Women’s Premiere League Rugby, WPL) for the Glendale Merlins and Colorado Greywolves.

Denver Onyx Foundational Five Players

Rica Coulibaly a former high school soccer player turned a wing and potential fullback for Denver Onyx began playing rugby in college at the University of Iowa where they played from 2020 to 2023. After college they continued their development by joining the Des Moines women’s rugby team from 2023 to 2024, before playing for the Colorado Grey Wolves women’s rugby club in the WPL’s last season. In explaining her choice of Rica, Coach Chobot said, “Rica is really interesting as they are a player from Iowa and are that example of what the draft was all about. You have these players that maybe haven’t gone to a WPL city and didn’t come from a Lindenwood, or Western Washington, or one of the Ivys, but they just are this gem that you didn’t know about until they introduced themself. They only played half a season last season for the WPL but ended up being the WPL try leader where they scored two tries in the final. They are just one of those good young wings that you are excited about. They are one of those players that has some flexibility on where they can go but I thought they were a really great example of you might not have come out of one of those top programs, but it doesn’t mean you are not quality.”

Rachel Ehrecke comes to Denver Onyx having played for her Valley High School during the 2012 and 2013 seasons before moving to the other side of the country to pursue college rugby at Penn State University from 2014 to 2018. After college, Ehrecke played for the WPL’s Glendale Merlins that became the Colorado Grey Wolves from 2018 to 2024. With the Merlins/Grey Wolves Ehrecke won three WPL championships in 2019, 2023, and 2024. She has also played for the Rocky Mountain Magic club in 2019 and 2021, the Darlington Mowden Park Sharks in 2023, and has been a member of the USA Women’s High Performance squad since 2020. Ehrecke will most likely play the second row/lock or blindside flanker position for Denver Onyx. Coach Chobot added Ehrecke to her F5 players due to her work ethic stating, “If I had to describe her in one word it would be work. She chews through work like no other player I have seen. She is not the biggest or not the fastest, but I am not sure if there is someone who gets through more work in the country. She is a great line operator, she can lock, she can play in the back row, she can seamlessly play in the center.”

McKenzie Hawkins, although originally from Tennessee, is described by Chobot as a “home-grown eagle.” Hawkins began playing rugby at the age of ten and played for Maryville rugby football club during her youth from 2007 to 2015 and during this time she was named USA High School All-American for 7s and 15s before heading off to Lindenwood University in 2015. At Lindenwood, Hawkins won two national championships in 2018 and 2019 and was named to the Collegiate All-American 15s squad. After Lindenwood, Hawkins played and won a WPL championship with the Glendale Merlins in 2019, competed for WPL’s Lifewest Gladiatrix in 2022 and has been an avid and important piece of the USA Women's Rugby Senior Team since 2018. As a fly-half and fullback for Denver Onyx, “Mac is a home-grown eagle from the Colorado side and if you have ever met Mac you just can’t help but be inspired and want to work for her. Again, she is another home-grown eagle that the fans are already aware of and can get people out to our market to be excited about Denver”, stated Chobot.

Maya Learned, or as Chobot endearingly calls her Leonard, is a Colorado native that grew up in the Glendale youth system that led to her playing rugby at Glendale High School from 2009 to 2014 where she was named a Junior All American in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and High School All American in 2014. After high school, Learned headed east where she played for Harvard rugby from 2014 to 2018 and was named a Collegiate All-American for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. While in college, Learned competed for the then WPL Glendale Raptors from 2013 to 2014, winning a championship in 2014. She continued to play locally in Colorado for the WPL’s Glendale Merlins from 2018 to 2020, winning a championship in 2019, and the revitalized iteration of the Glendale team the Colorado Grey Wolves in 2024 where with her then and now teammates won the 2024 championship. Additionally, Learned has been a member of the USA National team since 2019. In the selection of Learned, Chobot asserted, “She was an easy choice. She is a Colorado kid that came through the Glendale youth system and played for the WPL’s Grey Wolves. In addition, she has international test prop experience.”

T Wilfley is the youngest foundational five selection but has already solidified herself as an important piece on the wing or in the fullback position for Denver Onyx. Wilfley, similar to many of her teammates grew up in the Glendale youth rugby system and has been playing for East High School. In addition, Wilfley played the last two seasons in the WPL for the Colorado Grey Wolves winning championships alongside Ehrecke and Learned. “She is a high schooler, and I want to build this team around youth and future eagles and a place for a young player to really grow. What is really cool is she goes to school at East High School, one of the Denver based high school programs and she has a great backstory that her dad was an eagle as well---kind of a cool family thing and definitely got the rugby gene over there. For me she was a no brainer as she is a really impactful player and has already played a year of senior rugby as a high schooler and she has chosen this path and journey and is really excited about it,” stated Chobot.

About WER

To learn more about the team’s foundational five players, please follow WER on their social media platforms @rugbyevolved or check out the league’s website at https://www.womenseliterugby.us/. After the 2022 “Ignite the Change” campaign seeking to professionalize women’s rugby in the United States from the former Women’s Premier League Rugby player-run and operated amateur league, Women’s Elite Rugby was founded and formed. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes.

For more information, please contact:
Women’s Elite Rugby
inquiries@womenseliterugby.us

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Women’s Elite Rugby Announces Partnership with DAZN for Global Broadcast Rights

March 28, 2025

Fans will be able to watch all WER games live and on-demand for free only on DAZN UNITED STATES (March 20, 2025) – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) , the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States, is proud to announce a groundbreaking media partnership with DAZN, the leading global sports entertainment platform, to bring all the action from the inaugural 2025 season to fans across the country and around the world. With this partnership, DAZN’s platform becomes the only place for fans to enjoy all Women’s Elite Rugby games live and on-demand for free, alongside an exclusive, new mid-week highlights program. Women’s Elite Rugby joins DAZN’s extensive offering of women’s sport content, enjoyed by fans worldwide. DAZN holds the largest portfolio of women’s football rights in the world including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Liga F, Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga, Arkema Première Ligue and Serie A Femminile. DAZN also broadcasts top-tier women’s basketball, tennis and volleyball competitions in select markets. “We are thrilled to enter into this media partnership with DAZN,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, President of Women’s Elite Rugby . “This collaboration marks a major milestone for Women’s Elite Rugby as we continue to grow the sport and provide a platform for our talented athletes headed into our inaugural season. With the combined reach of DAZN, we are excited to deliver top-tier women’s rugby to a global audience and bring the game to new fans around the world.” The first game of the WER season is Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 3pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule . "DAZN’s partnership with Women’s Elite Rugby means that fans around the world eager to watch the inaugural season of this exciting competition can do so for free, alongside other premium women’s sports,” said Esmeralda Negron, Co-CEO of Women’s Sports at DAZN . “DAZN is committed to growing the reach and popularity of women’s rugby, having already set the standard for sports entertainment and the global broadcasting of premium women’s football." DAZN’s unrivalled scale, global footprint, and significant women’s sport audience is uniquely positioned to help build an engaged fanbase for Women’s Elite Rugby, with both DAZN and the league committed to growing the product through collaborative marketing efforts. For members of the media interested in speaking to a WER representative about the broadcast rights deals and any other topics regarding the league, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com . For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn . About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/ . About DAZN As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide. DAZN is the global home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, as well as the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more, including FIFA Club World Cup 2025. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. DAZN is a global, privately-owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com .

USA Rugby and Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) Formalize Sanctioning Agreement Ahead of Historic Inaugural Season

March 28, 2025

Partnership Elevates Women's 15s Rugby to New Heights, Aligning with World Rugby Standards UNITED STATES — USA Rugby and Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) are excited to announce the formalization of a historic sanctioning agreement ahead of WER’s inaugural 2025 season, marking a major milestone in the development of women’s 15s rugby in the United States. This official sanctioning confirms that WER will operate in alignment with World Rugby’s highest standards and regulations on the professional level, paving the way for a new era in professional women’s rugby. The partnership between USA Rugby and WER underscores both organizations' commitment and collaborations on long-term success for professional women’s rugby in the U.S. WER’s season also marks an thrilling start to a benchmark year for women’s rugby as new and veteran USA Eagles take the field in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup in 2025.

Women’s Elite Rugby Announces Partnership with Pinto Capital LLC

March 28, 2025

Pinto Capital is a sports M&A financing company, specialising in brokering sports investments UNITED STATES – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is delighted to announce the appointment of Pinto Capital LLP as strategic finance advisors and partners as the league progresses into Series A. With the boom of women’s sports valuations in the United States and in the United Kingdom creating exciting new opportunities, Pinto Capital is the ideal partner to support WER’s continued growth for many seasons to come. Pinto Capital is a sports M&A financing company, specializing in brokering sports investments, founded by former investment banker and hedge fund owner Laurie Pinto. Pinto Capital has been responsible for brokering ownership deals across the sports spectrum from the Premier League to the National League as well as wider work in (the) Bundesliga, USL and more. In October 2024, Pinto Capital announced the first sale ever of a county cricket team to an international group, after advising and brokering the sale of Hampshire County Cricket Club to GMR Global Pte Ltd. In January, it was also announced that Pinto Capital LLP started working with Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) to explore financing options to fund the County’s future development plans. “We are extremely excited to be working with the team at Women’s Elite Rugby to help drive the commercialisation of the sport as a whole,” said Pinto Capital Founder Laurie Pinto. “Rugby is one of the leading women’s sport - from rising social media stars to growing grassroots participation - and we look forward to taking it to new heights.” Working with WER was the perfect fit for Pinto Capital, with the growing interest and popularity of women’s rugby among the masses. Coming off the 2024 Paris Olympic Games where the USA Eagles took a Bronze medal, interest in women’s rugby spiked in the US with USA Club Rugby noting a spike of 64% in registered members for the 2024-2025 season. Men, women, non-binary and gender-diverse individuals all saw an increase in participation and registration within the organization after the Paris Olympics with women making up 45% of new players . Women’s rugby valuation is on the rise as businesswoman and entrepreneur Michelle Kang, who has invested in various women’s sports entities including the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Washington Spirit, donated $4 million to USA Rugby 7s team. In the UK, women’s rugby is also growing with Sports England highlighting that the number of women playing rugby has grown from 25,000 to 40,000 from 2017 to 2022 . Particularly, US superstar IIona Maher has seen her stardom pay off overseas, since joining the Bristol Bears, she debuted to a sold out crowd of 9,240 fans which was double their previous crowd. Maher’s valuation continues to soar as she recently signed a multi-year deal with Adidas , demonstrating that rugby players can be featured on the world stage as global ambassadors alongside other sport athletes. Launching its inaugural season in March 2025, Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is set to be an exhilarating new league featuring six professional teams competing across the U.S. The first game of the WER season is Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 3pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule . “We are thrilled to have Pinto Capital on board with us at WER,” said WER President Jessica Hammond Graf. “Pinto Capital brings a wealth of experience having worked with premier leagues and teams around the world. We have no doubt that our partnership together will elevate our league to new levels that assist us in furthering our mission to provide a world class rugby league for our athletes, coaches and fans.” For media members interested in speaking to a WER representative about Pinto Capital LLP and any other topics regarding the league, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com . For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn . About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/ .

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IDA Sports Become Official Footwear Partner Of Women’s Elite Rugby

March 12, 2025

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Women’s Elite Rugby Announces Partnership with Destination Sport Group

March 10, 2025

UNITED STATES (March 10, 2025) – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is thrilled to announce a new multi-year partnership with Destination Sport Group , as the leading sports travel management company becomes the Official Travel Partner of the premier women’s rugby league in the United States. Destination Sport Travel, the group’s specialist travel management division, will provide proactive support to WER and its six clubs, coordinating flights, accommodation and logistics for travelling teams, alongside business travel support for staff and executives. Launching its inaugural season in March 2025, Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is set to be an exhilarating new league featuring six professional teams competing across the U.S. The first game of the WER season is Saturday, March 22 with the New York Exiles hosting the Boston Banshees at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon at 4pm (EST). The regular season will run March 22 through June 14 with matches being played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, please visit the WER website: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2025-schedule. As the partnership evolves, Destination Sport Group will also work with WER to create touring opportunities for grassroots rugby-playing organizations and fan travel experiences via its inspiresport and SportsBreaks brands. “Women's Elite Rugby is thrilled to partner with travel industry leader Destination Sport Travel for all of our travel needs for the season,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, WER President. “This collaboration will not only provide seamless travel solutions for our teams, but it also demonstrates DST's commitment to rugby and the growth of women's sports. We are proud to call them our partners as we launch our inaugural season.” Destination Sport Group operates across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, establishing itself as a global leader in sports travel management. The company boasts significant involvement in professional rugby globally, including existing partnerships with Major League Rugby and elite clubs, national teams and governing bodies around the world. President of Destination Sport North America, Jeremy Parkins, added: “We are proud to be a major partner of rugby’s global footprint. Our partnership with Women’s Elite Rugby continues to exemplify our priority in the growth of Women’s sports and the sport of Rugby. In North America, we’re committed to playing our part through our successful partnership with Major League Rugby and we are eager to replicate this success with Women’s Elite Rugby.” For media members interested in speaking to a WER representative about the partnership with Destination Sport Group or any other topics regarding the league, please contact Sam Pell at wer@lindarothpr.com. For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. About WER Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first American professional women’s rugby league. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with their inaugural season starting in March 2025 centering six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Bay Area, and Twin Cities featuring 180 athletes. The mission of the WER is to be the defining standard of rugby in the United States. WER is structured on the stable foundation of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), a national, amateur pay-to-play model, high level rugby competition established in 2009. With the creation of Women’s Elite Rugby, world-class women’s rugby will be ushered into the next stage of its evolution and will take women’s rugby in the United States to new heights. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/. About Destination Sport Group Destination Sport Group (DSG) is a global leader in sports travel, offering a range of best-in-class services to teams, governing bodies, organisations and fans worldwide. Comprising seven specialist divisions, DSG offers a comprehensive solution including travel management for elite sports organisations, fan travel experiences, youth sports tours, branded travel and hospitality experiences, and mass participation event travel. With 400+ employees across UK and Europe, North America, Middle East, Asia and Oceania, Destination Sport Group combines local insights with global expertise.