Position: Number 8

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

Alycia Namosimalua

A California native of Fijian heritage, Alycia Namosimalua played in Women’s Elite Rugby between 2025-2026. She represented the Bay Breakers for her entire WER career.

Alycia Namosimalua earned her WER debut when she was named in the Bay Breakers’ starting lineup for their Round 3 clash with the TC Gemini in Lodi, CA. She played with the  Women’s Rugby team while attending Central Washington University, and has previously played with the Chicago Lions as well as the Rhinos in the Rugby Tens Championship, and both the Loggerheads and All-Stars in the PR7s.

Namosimalua started 7 of her 8 appearances for the Bay Breakers in the inaugural season of WER, scoring 2 tries. She returned for year 2 with the Breakers in 2026.

NARDB Player #1,548

Nic Carroll

New Jersey native Nic Carroll played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural season in 2025. They represented the New York Exiles for their entire WER career.

Nic Carroll earned their WER debut when they were named on the bench for the New York Exiles’ Round 3 clash with the Denver Onyx in Colorado. They previously played with NYRC in the WPL.

NARDB Player #1,545