Chicago Tempest

Last updated

Chicago Tempest
Chicago Tempest.png
FoundedJanuary 2025;6 months ago (2025-01)
Location Chicago, Illinois
Ground(s) Northwestern Medicine Field
Coach(es) Bryan Colbridge, Kaitlyn Kelly, Sam Hinton
Captain(s) Ilene Andrade
League(s) Women's Elite Rugby
2025 6th

The Chicago Tempest are an American semi-professional women's rugby union team based in Chicago, Illinois. The team was founded in 2025 and is scheduled to play in the inaugural Women's Elite Rugby season. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The Chicago Tempest team name references the extreme weather often experienced in the Windy City. [3] The Tempest's "plan to bring destruction, power, and unyielding challenge on the pitch and to their opponents. As the winters test the spirit of Chicagoeans but never break their will, the team reflects a thunderous storm and reckoning force." [3] The team crest features a storm in its momentum above the iconic Willis Tower tied together with the colors of Lightning Yellow and Tempest Gray. [3]

Bryan Colbridge was appointed to be Chicago Tempest's first head coach. [4] He has played and coached in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the United States for over 15 years. [4] He has coached at high school, collegiate and senior level rugby for women and men. [4] Anabel Diaz, Emma Farnan, Cienna Jordan, Betty Nguyen, and Kadie Sanford were named as foundational players for the team. [5] Their home games will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. [6]

Players

Current squad

The Chicago Tempest squad for the 2025 Women's Elite Rugby season is: [7]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Jayla Twitty Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ilene Andrade Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ashley Mencke Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Anabel Diaz Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tito Harrison Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Christen Jackson Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Narcisse Jordan Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Kadie Sanford Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sarah Anderson Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sarah Curvin Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ellie Reiter Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Olga Niyibizi Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ubaida Ahmed Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Katie Lamont Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Abby Albrecht Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Kit Buzby Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Amaryha McGowan Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Jess Dombrowski Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Erika Farias Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Nicole Fisch Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Taylor White Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Hali Deters Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Brooke Walklate Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Adriana Silva Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Indigo Niznik-Darden Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Emma Farnan Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
MarCaya Bailous Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Lauren Kuffel Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Betty Nguyen Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Isla Alejandro Fullback Flag of England.svg England

References

  1. "Chicago Tempest". Women's Elite Rugby. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  2. Pengelly, Martin (January 29, 2025). "'High-energy, risk-taking, intense' US women's league shows its rugby colors". The Guardian. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Smith, Allison (January 29, 2025). "Women's Elite Rugby (WER) Announces Their Highly Anticipated Team Names, Colors, and Crests Spearheaded by Partnership with MATTA". Women's Elite Rugby. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Women's Elite Rugby (WER) Announces 2025 Head Coaches for Inaugural Season". Women's Elite Rugby. October 24, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  5. Smith, Allison (February 19, 2024). "Women's Elite Rugby (WER) Releases Venues, Schedule, and Tickets ahead of Inaugural Kickoff in March". Women's Elite Rugby. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. Smith, Allison (February 19, 2025). "Women's Elite Rugby (WER) Releases Venues, Schedule, and Tickets ahead of Inaugural Kickoff in March". Women's Elite Rugby. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  7. Lane, Ro (February 18, 2025). "Chicago Tempest Announce 2025 Athlete Roster". Women's Elite Rugby. Retrieved February 26, 2025.