As the 2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Rugby Sevens tournament progressed into the highly anticipated quarterfinal matchups, the United States clashed with Great Britain in a thrilling contest that saw the Americans advance to the semifinals. With a 17-7 victory, the USA marked a significant milestone by securing their first-ever advancement past the quarterfinals at the Olympics, setting up a formidable semifinal showdown against New Zealand.
The match commenced with an unusual sevens maul, resulting in Great Britain gaining possession after a turnover by Sammy Sullivan. Isla Norman-Bell orchestrated a switch play, creating space for Eleanor May Boatman, who capitalized on the opportunity to score the first try of the match, giving Great Britain an early 7-0 lead.
The American side, undeterred by the early setback, responded promptly through their co-captain and all-time leading try scorer, Naya Tapper. Tapper, showcasing her speed and agility, found a gap and sprinted down the sideline for an effortless try, narrowing the gap to 7-5. Her defensive prowess was also on display as she executed a crucial try-saving tackle to thwart a British scoring opportunity.
The defensive intensity continued to escalate, with Jasmine Joyce of Great Britain making a stunning tackle to prevent Ilona Maher from a potential breakaway try. However, the momentum shifted in favor of the Americans at the start of the second half. Kristi Kirshe caught the ball from the Americans’ flawlessly executed kickoff, propelling the USA to a 10-7 lead.
The second half saw the USA leveraging their physicality and size to disrupt Great Britain’s control over the game. Veteran Olympian Alev Kelter and Kirshe combined their physicality to pave the way for Sullivan’s crucial insurance try, extending the lead to 17-7.
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