TC Gemini Announce Their Foundational Five Players Ahead of the League’s Inaugural Season

UNITED STATES — Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is announcing an expanded partnership with the You Can Play Project , reinforcing the shared commitment to create team cultures where LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, officials, and fans are safe, supported, and able to compete authentically at every level of the game.  The announcement comes after WER capped off Pride month on Sunday, June 21 with a slate of Pride games featuring all 6 teams. Players could be seen warming up in WER x You Can Play t-shirts with the message “If you can play, you can play.” Building on a partnership that began during WER’s inaugural season, the expanded collaboration with You Can Play will bring enhanced education, resources, and allyship programming directly into the rugby community. “Rugby has always been about community, connection, and belonging, and Women’s Elite Rugby firmly stands for inclusion,” said Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf, WER President and Chief Sporting Officer . “While we are required to operate within the bounds of our national governing body, we are grateful to partner with the folks at You Can Play to ensure a safe and welcoming environment at all levels of the game. Inclusion doesn’t start or end with WER - we need LGBTQ+ individuals as athletes, coaches, and administrators from youth through international competitions - so everyone can enjoy rugby.” “We're excited to expand our partnership with Women’s Elite Rugby and work alongside a community that understands the power of inclusion and belonging," said Kurt Weaver, Executive Director of You Can Play . "WER is creating opportunities for athletes and the rugby community to compete in a safe and welcoming environment, and we're proud to support that work through education and resources that help coaches, officials, and teams build welcoming programs for everyone.” A cornerstone of the expanded partnership will be WER working with You Can Play to host Inclusive Coach Courses, designed specifically for the rugby community. The program, built for coaches by coaches, will equip coaches with practical tools and training to foster inclusive, welcoming environments for all players. You Can Play’s Master Coaches will lead interactive and scenario based sessions, focused on exemplifying skills coaches can use immediately in their coaching and refereeing. As WER continues its second season, the league remains focused on creating a professional environment that reflects the diversity of its athletes and the global rugby community, both on and off the field. All matches will be streamed live on Women’s Sports Network. Tickets can be purchased at womenseliterugby.us/tickets . For the latest news and updates, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn .

UNITED STATES — Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) , the premier professional women’s rugby league in the United States, today announced a series of midseason roster and staffing updates as the league continues its second season.  Highlighting the next generation of talent, Tiahna Padilla , selected by the TC Gemini in the spring draft, recently won the MA Sorensen Award , given to the top collegiate rugby player in the country. Her recognition underscores the strength of emerging talent entering the WER pipeline. The TC Gemini also adds international experience to its staff with Laura Delgado , a former Spanish rugby union international, joining as an assistant coach. Delgado will also be playing for the Barbarians before she arrives. Across the league, teams are making key midseason additions. The Boston Banshees picked up two mid-season transfers in Kelsie O’Brien (from the Denver Onyx) and Sophie Lamphier (from the Bay Breakers), strengthening its roster for the second half of the season. The New York Exiles added Kailynn Hampton , a top try scorer from the Gemini last season, bringing even more offensive production to the squad. WER also welcomes back elite talent, with three USA Eagles returning to league play: Rachel Ehrecke (Denver Onyx), Paige Stathopoulos (Boston Banshees), and Cheta Emba (Boston Banshees). Ehrecke and Stathopoulos return following a successful season in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) with Loughborough Lightning, further elevating the level of competition across the league. Several WER athletes and coaches will also represent the United States on the international stage this summer. Denver Onyx Head Coach Sarah Chobot joined the USA Eagles on their South Africa tour on July 4 and will continue to do so on July 11. Current WER players on the USA roster are: Kapoina Bailey (Denver Onyx), Lauryn Carlton (Boston Banshees), Rachel Ehrecke (Denver Onyx), Paige Stathopoulos (Boston Banshees), Bulou Mataitoga (Bay Breakers), Taina Tukuafu (Bay Breakers) and Telesi Uhatafe (Bay Breakers). Kristin “Ham” Zdanczewicz will represent the USA U20 women’s team on their South Africa series on July 18 and July 25. Additionally, the USA Eagles will compete on a Brazil tour in July/August that is expected to feature a number of WER players. Coaching adjustments will accompany these international call-ups. While Chobot is out, Rachel Johnson will serve as acting Head Coach for the Denver Onyx, and Kaitlyn Kelly will serve as acting Head Coach in Chicago while Zdanczewicz is on tour. These updates reflect the continued growth of Women’s Elite Rugby and its role in developing and elevating top domestic and international talent, while contributing to the broader USA Rugby pathway. For the latest news and update, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn . About Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is redefining the future of the sport in the United States as the first professional women’s rugby league. Officially launched in 2024, WER’s inaugural season kicked off in March 2025 with six founding teams across Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, Northern California, and the Twin Cities, featuring 180 of the world’s top athletes. Built on the competitive legacy of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), WER evolves the game from amateur roots into a professional stage built for longevity, unlocking new opportunities for athletes, partners, and fans. With a focus on elite competition, commercial growth, and cultural relevance, WER is ushering in the next stage of rugby in the United States. For further information visit: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/ .

On the back of her highly anticipated new album, Toy With Me, Trainor expands her impact beyond music with a strategic investment in women’s rugby.

WER’s second season kicks off the first week of May UNITED STATES — Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) today announced a series of key leadership and governance advancements as the league enters its Series A raise on the back of its successful inaugural season. The league is strengthening its leadership bench with proven operators, people who have built audiences, grown revenue, and run businesses with fiscal discipline, to help WER scale faster. Over the past several months, WER has also significantly bolstered its executive leadership team. Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf has transitioned into the role of Chief Sporting Officer, while continuing to serve as President, with oversight of high-performance planning, rugby operations, athlete development, and events. Phil Camm has moved into the role of Chief Commercial Officer, leading the league’s growth strategy. This new leadership structure will report to an already impressive board. At the board level, the league welcomes Priya Oberoi , representing Goddess Gaia Ventures. Her addition deepens the board’s expertise as WER enters its next phase of growth. Oberoi joins board members Randy Little , co-founders Koma Gandy and Jenny Houlihan , and lead investor Deb Henretta. In parallel with these leadership advancements, WER has established a Commercial Advisory Council composed of seasoned industry leaders Teresa Palladino , Liz Anderson , Stacy Jolna , and Rob Candelino . The Council is a senior-advisor group made up of WER stakeholders helping to sharpen the league's commercial plans, focused on marketing, partnerships, broadcast, and investment strategy. More information about the members of WER’s Commercial Advisory Council can be found below. Teresa Palladino Teresa Palladino is a senior marketing executive with global experience building sports and media brands that grow audiences, deepen fan engagement, and drive revenue. She spent a decade at Red Bull creating athlete-led campaigns and partnerships with measurable commercial impact. Most recently, she led brand marketing, storytelling, community engagement, and partnerships for Grand Slam Track’s launch, and earlier helped ONE Championship expand across the Americas through digital and broadcast partnerships. Liz Anderson Liz Anderson is an entertainment and sports marketing leader with 20 years of experience shaping global campaigns. At Netflix, she led strategy for live sports and events, partnering with leagues like the NFL and WWE. She also built the “Netflix is a Joke” brand and marketed comedy worldwide, after leading digital and social strategy at Disney/ABC. Stacy Jolna Stacy Jolna is a C-suite media innovator working across TV, AI, streaming, and social. At TiVo, he built the brand nationwide, secured strategic media investments, and helped drive a successful IPO to a $1B market cap. At News Corp, he created and scaled TV Guide SPOT from concept to a $650M market cap. He also launched CNN Presents and Special Reports, and now leads enViibe, an AI guidance platform for streaming consumers. Rob Candelino Rob Candelino is a globally accomplished Consumer Products executive, investor, advisor and Board member. Most recently, Rob served as CEO of PetSafe Brands, the world’s largest PetTechnology company. Prior to that Rob spent decades at Unilever where he served in a variety of executive roles, most notably as CEO of Thailand and Inland ASEAN. Rob is a Board member of The Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company, where he Chairs the Innovation and Technology Committee, and the Tennessee Theatre. If you have any questions about WER or would like to speak to members of the leadership team please email wer@lindarothpr.com . For the latest news and updates, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Media images of Women’s Elite Rugby are available HERE . Headshots of WER leadership are HERE . 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/ .

All 2026 WER matches will be broadcast live on WSN FEBRUARY 18, 2026 – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) today announced a new media partnership with The Women’s Sports Network (WSN) , the FAST Studios–backed, women’s-sports-only channel. Through the agreement, WSN will serve as the “The Home of WER” for the 2026 season, delivering live and delayed match coverage on its channel under an exclusive content licensing deal. Fans will be able to watch WER matches through a platform designed for modern viewing habits. WSN is free, ad-supported, and widely available across major smart TVs and streaming platforms, including Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, VIZIO WatchFree+, LG Channels on LG Smart TVs, Fubo, Plex and My Free DirecTV. The distribution allows viewers to access WER content on devices they already own without requiring an additional subscription. “For the fans who can’t join us in person, this partnership with The Women’s Sports Network will bring you closer to the action than ever,” said Phil Camm, Chief Commercial Officer for Women’s Elite Rugby . “WSN shares our commitment to women’s sports, and together we’ll deliver a broadcast that gets tight on the explosive collisions, the relentless pace, and the athletic brilliance and unique personalities of our players across the country. With WSN available across multiple platforms nationwide, more fans, longtime rugby supporters and first-timers alike, can tune in and be part of it.” WER will sit alongside a growing slate of top-tier women’s sports programming on WSN, including NWSL, the LPGA Tour, and SailGP, giving fans a single place to watch some of the biggest women’s competitions. “Women’s Elite Rugby embodies the strength, speed, and competitive excellence that define the future of women’s sports,” said Carol Stiff, President of The Women’s Sports Network . “As the Home of WER for the 2026 season, we’re thrilled to showcase these incredible athletes and bring the intensity of elite women’s rugby to fans everywhere through our free, widely accessible platform.” For media members, photographers, videographers and/or content creators interested in hearing more or attending any practices/matches, please fill out the credential form HERE . Your request will be vetted by our PR team and you will receive a confirmation or rejection notification shortly after applying. For the latest news and updates, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Media images of Women’s Elite Rugby are available HERE .  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 The Women’s Sports Network: The Women's Sports Network is the home for women’s sports. A free, ad-supported, 24/7 streaming destination, The Women’s Sports Network is the preferred cable alternative for cord cutters that’s available across Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, VIZIO WatchFree+, LG Channels on LG Smart TVs, Fubo, Plex and My Free DirecTV. Launched by FAST Studios in 2022, The Women's Sports Network is the leading destination where fans can see live games, news and exceptional stories across every women’s sport, including League One Volleyball (LOVB), Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), U.S. Ski and Snowboard,) SailGP, Pac-12, and more – finally leveling the playing field for female athletes. For more information, visit: https://womenssports.com .

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Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is thrilled to announce that Hallie Martin, Co-Founder and Director of New Media , has been named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 – Sports list for 2025. This honor recognizes young leaders who are redefining innovation, creativity, and impact across the sports industry—and Hallie stands out as a visionary shaping the future of women’s sports. As one of the architects behind WER’s new media strategy, Hallie has played a central role in building a dynamic, athlete-driven digital ecosystem. Her work has elevated the visibility of women’s rugby, empowered athletes to share their stories, and helped position WER as one of the fastest-growing emerging sports leagues in the United States. “Hallie’s creative leadership and commitment to amplifying athlete voices have been instrumental to our early success,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, WER President. “Her selection to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list is a tremendous honor and a testament to the bold, innovative approach she brings to WER every day. We are incredibly proud of her.” Forbes highlighted Hallie for her forward-thinking approach to storytelling, fan engagement, and digital innovation—key pillars of WER’s growth strategy. Her ability to merge strategic content creation with a deep passion for equity in sports has helped shape a league that prioritizes visibility, inclusivity, and community-building. Hallie’s recognition places her among an elite group of young changemakers who are challenging traditional models and ushering in the next era of sports leadership. Her work at WER reflects not only her personal excellence, but also a broader movement driving new opportunities for women athletes across professional sports. For the full list of 2026 honorees click HERE.

Pittsford, Vermont – November 13, 2025 – Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States, today announced the head coaches for the 2026 season which will kickoff in May 2026. WER will retain head coaches in five of the six inaugural markets and will bring Kristin Zdanczewicz onboard in a full-time capacity after she served as the acting head coach for a portion of the 2025 season. “We are really excited to be bringing the head coaching team from Season 1 back for Season 2. An inaugural season is always a learning experience for everyone. So, I am excited to see how those lessons learned and successes achieved are actioned on in this second year”, said WER Director of Rugby Jamie Burke . “While the teams in the league compete against each other on the pitch, I am really proud of the way the head coaches have supported each other and collaborated with each other to ensure the ongoing success of the league and we look forward to more of that as we gear up for our second season." “Our coaches were the cornerstone of Women’s Elite Rugby’s on field success in Season 1,” said WER President, Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf . “Their commitment to player development, teamwork, and culture helped set the foundation for an exciting rugby experience, not only for our players, but also our fans. As we move into Season 2, this group will continue to shepherd our league forward — leading with integrity, vision, and the passion that defines our game.” Player declarations for the 2026 season will begin on December 1. Information will be available in the coming weeks on www.womenseliterugby.us Head Coach Bios Bay Breakers Head Coach: Hannah Stolba Stolba most recently served as the head coach of the Berkeley All Blues Women’s Rugby of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Stolba has over a decade of coaching experience across all levels of the game and as a player was on two World Cup squads (2010 and 2014). Stolba helped lead the All Blues to a WPL Championship in 2022 and runners up in 2023 and 2024.  Boston Banshees Head Coach: Kittery Ruiz Ruiz’s rugby coaching experience spans collegiate, WPL, and USA U20 Women’s National teams. Ruiz most recently has served as both head and assistant coach of the WPL’s Beantown Rugby in Boston and currently serves as an assistant coach with Brown University and an assistant coach with the USA U20 women’s national team. Ruiz represented USA Rugby as a player in the 2010 and 2014 Rugby World Cups, as a part of the 7s pool in 2009. Ruiz was most recently recognized by the WRCRA with the Kathy Flores’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Chicago Tempest Head Coach: Kristin Zdanczewicz Zdanczewicz served as acting head coach for the Chicago Tempest during part of the 2025 season and now returns to lead the team in her first full year as head coach. In addition to her work with the Tempest, she holds a hybrid role at Bowdoin College, where she mentors student-athletes in the weight room and assists the coaching staff with on-field technical development. She also serves as the Lead Physical Performance Coach for USA Rugby’s Women’s High Performance Pathway, creating and implementing performance plans for the U18, U20, and U23 Women’s National Teams. A member of the USA Women’s National Team from 2000–2018, Zdanczewicz represented the U.S. at the 2006 and 2010 Rugby World Cups and captained the team in 2007 and 2009. Denver Onyx Head Coach: Sarah Chobot Chobot, a former USA women's national team player, currently serves as the defense coach for the USA Women’s Eagles. Chobot has held various coaching positions at a multitude of levels since transitioning to coaching in 2018. Chobot, a Michigan native who honed her craft in Minnesota, notably was named the head coach of the American Raptors in 2023 and was the first female head coach in the Super Rugby Americas. Chobot also previously served as the Defense and Forwards Coach with the Raptors. She led the Onyx to the WER Legacy Cup in 2025. New York Exiles Head Coach: Diego Maquieira Prior to his role with the WER, Maquieira served as the head coach for the WPL’s New York Rugby Club, as well as served as the Forward Coach at Columbia University for the Men’s Rugby Football Club and Assistant Coach for the Old Blue Women and U23 Men’s 7s. In his first season with NYRC women, he guided the team to a national semifinal. As a former college football player, Maquieira found rugby later in life, and developed a strong passion for training and developing crossover athletes. Despite his later start in the sport, Diego was skilled enough to play for multiple MLR franchises. TC Gemini Head Coach : Sylvia Braaten Braaten has over 15 years of professional experience in coaching and performance training. Braaten was also the Lead Physical Performance Coach with the USA Women’s national team from 2020 to 2024. In Braaten’s five seasons coaching with Harvard Rugby, she won three NIRA National Championships (2019, 2023, 2024) and one USA 7’s National Championship (2024). Braaten played in the WPL for ten years with the Twin Cities Amazons and has over 15 years of playing experience, with eight years at the international level. Braaten represented USA Rugby in the HSBC 7’s World Series and as a player in the 2014 and 2017 Rugby World Cups. Braaten also completed her Graduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard. About Women’s Elite Rugby Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is a pioneering professional league dedicated to elevating women’s rugby in the United States. Launched in 2025, WER brings together world-class athletes, coaches, and communities to advance the game and expand opportunities for women in sport. With six inaugural teams across major markets, WER is building a competitive, sustainable pathway that inspires the next generation of players and fans. Through tenacity, equity, and innovation, WER is shaping the future of women’s rugby — on and off the field. Learn more at womenseliterugby.us. For the latest news and updates surrounding the league, follow WER on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Media Contact: Jessica Poole Acting Director of Communications Jessica.Poole@womenseliterugby.com www.womenseliterugby.us

Knowledge is Power: Breast Cancer Awareness Month with WER