On a humid Saturday evening in Washington, D.C., the USA Women’s Eagles held off a competitive late-game rally from Fiji to claim a 31–24 win in their final home test before heading to the Rugby World Cup in England. The match, played in front of a record-breaking home crowd of 15,198 at Audi Field, tested the depth and discipline of a U.S. team still finding its final form.
The Americans came out with early intent and were quick to assert their forward dominance. Hope Rogers opened the scoring by powering over the line for a try, converted cleanly by McKenzie Hawkins. The Eagles built on that momentum minutes later when Erica Jarrell‑Searcy finished off a methodical driving maul to extend the lead to 14–0.
While the opening quarter belonged to the United States, Fiji showed signs of their trademark creativity and pace before the break. They capitalized on U.S. defensive gaps and managed two tries to stay within striking distance. Still, the Eagles managed to push their lead to 26–14 by halftime, leaning heavily on forward strength and set-piece efficiency.
The second half opened with renewed pressure from Fiji, but the Americans answered swiftly. Back-row stalwart Rachel Johnson provided a critical spark, crashing over for a try that widened the margin and steadied the U.S. momentum. Johnson’s leadership and physicality proved crucial as the tempo began to shift.
Moments later, a well-executed cross-field kick from Hawkins found its target in Emily Henrich, who dove into the corner to score. The try gave the Eagles a 31–14 advantage, suggesting the match might be comfortably in hand.
Fiji responded with urgency and flair, scoring twice more in the final stages of the match. With just minutes remaining and the score narrowed to 31–24, they mounted a relentless assault inside the American five-meter line, forcing the Eagles to defend multiple scrums. It was in those final minutes that the U.S. fortitude shone through. With critical tackles, a pair of held-up tries, and calm breakdown execution, the Eagles held their ground and denied Fiji the equalizer.
While the final score reflected a narrow win, the performance was a valuable stress test for a U.S. side preparing for the highest level of competition. The forward pack delivered much of the heavy lifting, scoring three of the five tries, while impact players like Rachel Johnson and Rachel Ehrecke helped hold the defensive line during the most critical stretches of the match. In the backs, flyhalf Kristin Bitter—who
entered the match in the second half—helped settle the tempo in key moments and showed clear confidence in distribution under pressure, offering encouraging signs as she continues to find her rhythm at the international level.
With this hard-fought win, the Eagles close out their home series and will now travel north to face Canada in Ottawa—one last international test before their opening match at the World Cup. Against a fast and fearless Fijiana side, the USA left the capital with more than just a win they left with a clear picture of what still needs sharpening, and a reaffirmed belief in their capacity to withstand pressure at the wire.
