Team History
Established in 1998, the Cal Women’s Rugby Team is a club sport at the University of California, Berkeley. The team competes in the highly competitive Pacific Mountain West D1 Conference, which includes Stanford, Chico State, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, Sacramento State, Fresno State, and Cal Poly SLO.
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In 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2013, the team advanced to the USA Rugby Round of 16 National Tournament and finished in the Elite 8 in 2012. In Fall 2013, the team advanced to the 7s National Tournament in Greensboro, NC, finishing fourth. In Spring 2025, the team made their first appearance at the CRAA D1 15s National Championship and 7s National Championship, ending in second place in both tournaments.
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New players’ prior experience in rugby ranges from no experience to playing since early childhood and through high school. The team provides the opportunity for competitive play as well as the development of rugby skills for players of all experience levels.
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The team has named players to the USA Rugby Women’s Collegiate All American squad. Players from the Cal Women’s Rugby team have also been successful in select side play and have been selected for the USA Rugby Women’s National Team, the Women’s 7s National Team, the Women’s Collegiate and U20 National Team.
Facts and Stats
Synopsis:
Cal Women’s Rugby has demonstrated competitive success, while developing young women into confident and dedicated community members.
Our team has played at regional playoffs every year for the last 4 years, made an appearance at the D1 National Championship game, and has sent players from our team to represent the USA on the Under 19, Under 23, and Senior Women’s National teams.
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Status
NCAA Status: Women’s Rugby is a NCAA Women’s Emerging Sport, Division I
University Status: CWR is a Registered Student Organization (RSO)
Members: Average of 40 Student Athletes, 2-5 coaches
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Record
2025: 2nd Place at USA Rugby 15s, 2nd Place at USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championship
2024: Quarterfinals at USA Rugby 15s, 2nd place in the Pacific Mountain Conference
2023: Quarterfinals at USA Rugby 15s, 2nd place in the Pacific Mountain Conference
2019: 1st Place at Pacific Mountain West 7s
2015: 7th Place at USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championships
2014: 9th Place at USA Rugby Nationals
2013: 4th Place at USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championships, 9th Place at USA Rugby Nationals, 3rd place in the Pacific Mountain Conference
2012: 7th Place at USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championships, 5th–8th Place at USA Rugby 15s Collegiate Championship
2011: 5th Place at USA Rugby 7s Collegiate Championships
2010: 13th Place National Ranking by Rugby Magazine
2008: 15th at USA Rugby Nationals, 4th place in the Pacific Coast Region
2006: 9th at USA Rugby Nationals, 3rd place in the Pacific Coast Region
2005: 10th at USA Rugby Nationals, 3rd place in the Pacific Coast Region
2002: 11th at USA Rugby Nationals, 2nd place in the Pacific Coast Region​
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Individual Player Honors
USA Rugby Women’s National Team
2005 – 2007 – Rose Whitmore ‘04
2007 – 2009 – Allyson Hemstreet ‘05
2011 – 2016 – Irene Gardner ’07
2012 – Lucy Croy '10
2015 – Jennifer Sever '12
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USA Rugby Women’s Under 23 National Team
2022 – Hope Cooper '21
2015 – Celeste Knight ’15, Jessica Lewis ’15, Rose Russell ’15, Stacey Wong ‘15
2014 – Jessica Lewis ’15, Rose Russell ‘15
2013 – Aubrey Huey ’13
2012 – Jennifer Sever ’12
2007 – Katie Chou ’07
2002 – Laurel Kellner ’04
2002 – Rose Whitmore ’04
2003 – Laurel Kellner ’04
2004 – Rose Whitmore ‘04
2005 – Allyson Hemstreet ‘05, Jessica Shipley ‘05, Katie Chou ‘07
2006 – Allyson Hemstreet ‘05, Jessica Shipley ‘05, Katie Chou ‘07
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USA Rugby Women’s Under 19 National Team
2014 - 2015 – Abby Vogel ’17
2014 - 2015 – Caitlyn Whiteside ’17
2014 – Stacey Wong ’15
2013 – Genevieve Ireland ’15
2013 – Laci Patiga ’14
2002 – Sophia Chytry ’06
2005 - 2006 – Marlee Hahn ‘09
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USA Rugby Collegiate All Americans
2025 – Athena Lewis ’25, Eve Mango ’25, Faith Adidjaja ’26, Grace Talty ’26, Lorie Martinez ’25, Lupita Gonzalez ’25, Mariah Overby ’26, May Lauritzen ‘25
2020 - Hope Cooper '21
2015 – Jessica Lewis ’15, Rose Russell ’15
2014 – Genevieve Ireland ’15
2013 – Hannah “Luke” Edwards ’13
2009 – Martha Camacho ‘11 Second Team
2007 – Katie Chou ‘07 First Team, Alissa Sambucetti ‘07 Second Team
2006 – Katie Chou ‘07 First Team, Marlee Hahn ‘09 Second Team
2005 – Allyson Hemstreet ‘05 First Team, Katie Chou ‘07, Jessica Shipley ‘05 Second Team
2004 – Rose Whitmore ’04, First Team, Rachel Suits ‘04, Second Team
2003 – Rose Whitmore ’04 First Team, Laurel Kellner ‘04, Second Team
2002 – Kim Young ’02, First Team, Makenna Barris ’02, Second Team
2001 - Ann -Yu Wang ’02, Second Team, Mary Jensen ’02 Honorable Mention
2000 - Lindsay Forhan ’00, Honorable Mention
1999 - Katie Wharton ’00, First Team, Emily Nugent ’99, Second Team
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California Grizzlies U23 Select Team
2022 – Mrinalini Jain '21, Dorothy Mao '23, Katie Brown '23, Sierra Dean '22
2023 – Timea Ryan '24, May Lauritzen '25 (Winning National Squad)​
2024 – Grace Talty ’26, Timea Ryan ’24, Lorie Martinez ‘25
2025 – Lupita Gonzalez ’25, May Lauritzen ’25, Eve Mango ’25, Grace Talty ‘26
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Olympic Status
Rugby (Men’s & Women’s 7s) became a medal sport in the 2016 Olympics USA Rugby is a member of the US Olympic Committee.
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