USA Women's Rugby returns to KC
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The USA Eagles at a game earlier this year. Photo: Courtesy of USA Women's Rugby
Kansas City broke the U.S. attendance record for women's rugby last year. Now, Team USA returns to CPKC Stadium to see if the city can do it again.
The big picture: USA Women's Rugby players say KC keeps getting chosen for major rugby matches because the city shows up for women's sports, and the numbers prove it.
Context: Last year's crowd of 10,518 at CPKC Stadium for a USA vs. Canada Pacific Four Series match set the record for the largest standalone attendance ever recorded for a USA Women's Rugby match.
- The series features four of the top national women's rugby teams: the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
What they're saying: The USA Eagles' flanker, Georgie Perris-Redding, was on the field when the record was broken, and she says the moment has stuck with her.
- "Being in the stadium and seeing that happen live was such a special experience," Perris-Redding tells Axios. "I'm hoping we're going to top that."
- "You're not only playing for the USA, but you're playing for a fan group that is so dedicated to the growth of women's sports," she says. "That does make it extra special."
Scrumhalf Cass Bargell says KC feels like home in a way that goes beyond the stadium.
- "From the people we talk to when we go out for coffee or the Uber drivers, even though not all of us are from here, it's definitely one of our homes," Bargell tells Axios. "We hope the stadium's a sellout. Playing in front of fans gives us so much energy."
- "There's a lot of pride in being a female athlete," she says. "We take that as a serious responsibility, that we're playing on a field built for women."
Zoom out: Both players said Friday is about more than one match — the U.S. will host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2033, and the sport still has a lot of ground to cover before then.
- "There are still quite a lot of people in the States who don't even know what rugby is," Perris-Redding says. "But this city and the games happening here are really showing us why 2033 is going to be a huge success if the fans keep showing up."
What's next: The USA faces Australia at 8pm Friday, with Canada vs. New Zealand opening the doubleheader at 5:15pm.
- Limited tickets are still available through SeatGeek.
- The matches will air on Paramount+ and RugbyPass TV.