Rugby is becoming an international sport that has garnered success in various countries and has risen in popularity outside of the Pacific Ocean regions. The sport has only been played in the Olympics seven times throughout history, including the 2024 games in Paris. In 1924, the US 15s squad took home the gold medal. Since then the sport had a drought of not being included in the Olympic games at all until 2016. Despite having chances in the 2016 and 2020 games, the US sevens teams had not medaled, that is until today.

With a stunning last-second score and conversion over Australia in the bronze medal match, Team USA Women’s Rugby team took home the third place prize with a 13-12 win. After looking like they might be stuck in their own half, the US squad was able to get the ball out to Spiff Sedrick who ran the length of the field after barreling over members of the opposition to clinch the dramatic score.

In what was a close game through and through, Team USA came out on top and secured another medal. As for Team Australia, heartbreak was evident as one of the tournament hopefuls was unable to secure a medal, especially after a loss in such a crushing manner. The Wallaroos played a resilient match and just had a fall at the end, which is a crushing blow to the country’s overall medal count, leaving them with only 11 as of today. However, they are tied for the second-most golds in the Olympics with six.

The total medal count for Team USA is currently 26, including four golds. In the standings for gold medals, the United States currently sits in sixth place.