Position: Number 8

Julia Buescher

California native Julia Buescher played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural 2025 season. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Named as a reserve player for the 2025 season, Julia Buescher earned her WER debut when she was named in the Denver Onyx reserves for their Round 7 clash with the Boston Banshees. Buescher has previously worked as the account executive for MLR’s San Diego Legion, and has represented the Legion’s Women’s side when they competed in the Rugby Tens Championship in 2024. Buescher has also represented the San Diego Surfers in the WPL before their withdrawal in 2022.

NARDB Player #1,592

Chloe Jex

Lock/back row Chloe Jex played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the New York Exiles for her entire WER career.

Chloe Jex was signed by the New York Exiles part-way through WER’s inaugural season. She earned her WER debut when she was named in the NY Exiles reserves for their Round 7 clash with the TC Gemini. She has previously played with Tempe Rugby’s D1 team in Arizona, and has represented the DC Furies (2018), NYRC (2019), and the Colorado Gray Wolves (2022-2023) in the WPL.

Chloe Jex earned 6 appearances for the Exiles during the inaugural season of WER, starting 4 times and scoring 2 tries to help the team advance to the Legacy Cup, where they finished as Runners Up in their first year, She returned for a second season with the Exiles in 2026.

achievements
  • 2025 Legacy Cup Runner Up: New York Exiles

NARDB Player #1,589

Mary Wunderle

Ohio native Mary Wunderle played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural 2025 season. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Named as a reserve for the 2025 season, Mary Wunderle earned her WER debut when she was named in the Denver Onyx reserves for their Round 6 clash with the Chicago Tempest. She has previous played with the Cleveland Rugby Coalition where she has also served as founding president and assistant coach, and coached the Saint Joseph Academy rugby team between 2020-2025.

NARDB Player #1,583

Tara Viken

Minnesota native Tara Viken played in Women’s Elite Rugby during the inaugural 2025 season. She represented the Twin Cities Gemini for her entire WER career.

Tara Viken earned her WER debut off the bench for the TC Gemini in their Round 2 clash with the Boston Banshees. She has previously played with the Twin Cities Amazons in the WPL.

 

NARDB Player #1,574

Sierra Watkins

Tennessee native Sierra Watkins played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Bay Breakers for her entire WER career.

Sierra Watkins earned her WER debut when she was named in the Bay Breakers starting lineup for their Round 4 clash with the New York Exiles. She has previously played with the Berkeley All-Blues in the WPL.

NARDB Player #1,558

Jake Kinneeveauk

Alaskan back row Jake Kinneeveauk played in Major League Rugby between 2025-2026. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Raised in Anchorage, AK, Jake Kinneeveauk attended the University of Utah, playing rugby through his time there. He was named in the All-Conference team for the 2022/23 season, and graduated in 2024. Kinneeveauk declared for the 2024 MLR Collegiate Draft and was invited to MLR Rising, a combine that gave MLR teams a chance to see 50 of the top college prospects in action. Kinneeveauk clearly impressed at MLR rising, as he was selected in the 2nd Round, 22nd overall by the Chicago Hounds.

Kinneeveauk spent the fall season with the Chicago Lions club side, as well as the Hounds Academy team where he earned a MLR roster spot for the 2025 season. He appeared in his first matchday 23 during Round 10, starting on the bench as the league-leading Hounds faced the Seattle Seawolves on the road. This was his only MLR appearance of his rookie season, however he spent the fall of 2025 with the Chicago Hounds Autumn Performance Squad and on 5th January, 2026, the team announced his return for the 2026 MLR season.

achievements

NARDB Player #1,554

Amaryha McGowan

Illinois native Amaryha McGowan played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Chicago Tempest for her entire WER career.

Amaryha McGowan earned her WER debut when she was named on the Tempest bench for their Round 3 clash with the Boston Banshees in Chicago. She has previously played with the Rockford Ravens, and represented the University of Iowa Women’s Rugby Team.

NARDB Player #1,553

Maria Bashmakov

Indiana native Maria Bashmakov played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. She represented the Chicago Tempest for her entire WER career.

Named as an ‘on-call’ player for the 2025 season, Maria Bashmakov earned her WER debut when she was named on the Tempest bench for their Round 3 clash with the Boston Banshees in Chicago. She played for the Women’s Rugby team while attending Queen’s University of Charlotte, and has previously represented Chicago North Shore in the WPL

NARDB Player #1,552

Rebecca Tillman

Iowa native Rebecca Tillman played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. They represented the Chicago Tempest for their entire WER career.

Named as an ‘on-call’ player for the 2025 season, Rebecca Tillman earned their WER debut when they were named in the Tempest starting lineup for their Round 3 clash with the Boston Banshees in Chicago. They has previously represented the Milwaukee Scylla and toured with the Midwest Thunderbirds. Tillman has also played with Chicago North Shore in the WPL.

NARDB Player #1,551

Bailey Johnson

Minnesota native Bailey Johnson played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the TC Gemini for her entire WER career.

Although named as an ‘on-call’ player for the 2025 season, Bailey Johnson earned her WER debut when she was named on the Gemini bench for their Round 3 clash with the Bay Breakers in Lodi, CA. She has played with Wayzata Girls Rugby and Mankato Women’s Rugby Club, and has represented both the Collegiate All Americans and Midwest Thunderbirds on tour. She has also played with the Life West Gladiatrix in the WPL/D1.

Bailey Johnson appeared in 7 of the TC Gemini’s 10 matches during the inaugural season of WER competition, and returned for a second year with the team in 2026.

NARDB Player #1,549