Prolific Rugby Player Phaidra Knight Discusses Historic Women’s Rugby Win at the Olympics

Just over two weeks ago, the U.S. women’s rugby team firmly cemented itself in rugby history. In an extremely tight game, Alex Sedrick broke away from Team Australia and scored the winning try, which awarded Team U.S.A a five point goal in the final 8 seconds. She then clinched the win by scoring an additional two points in a conversion as the ball soared through the two goal posts at the end of the field. These points left the final score at 14-12 and secured the first ever Olympic Medal for the U.S. Rugby Team. Following this momentous game, Michele Kang pledged a whopping 4 million dollars over the next four years to the women’s rugby team to help them grab the gold in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. This stunning game and buzzworthy donation has got all eyes on women’s rugby, and many asking what’s next for the sport. 

Phaidra Knight, a former Nyack bussiness owner and a highly decorated and prolific rugby player turned Mixed Martial Arts fighter, discussed her experience being in Paris for the win and the understated importance of women in sports. 

The day of the July 30th win, Knight had one word – emotion. From the second she began preparing for the day, Knight recalled that she could sense a shift in the energy of the day, stating “I could feel everything in my bones. I could feel that something incredible was about to happen.” In the breathtaking moments when Sedrick broke away and scored those final points, Knight shared that she “…immediately shuddered. I was in tears. All I could say was oh my God, oh my God. The tears, I couldn’t fight [them] back, I was very emotional.”

Knight played with the USA Rugby team from 1999 to 2017, has been recognized as one of the best players in the world in two different rugby positions, and has made three World Cup appearances. She is also the first African American woman to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, and the eighth woman ever inducted. Knight expressed that she saw the game as “…a change in the tide for the sport here in the U.S., especially for the women who have fought so valiantly and consistently over the past…40 plus years”. 

As she cheered on the team, Knight highlighted one major component she witnessed during the July 30th game. As she watched, she noted how she believed that the players were calling upon the strength and power of those who have played before them, or “high women”. Knight continued, sharing that these high women are players who Team U.S.A  “…regarded as an inspiration”, with Knight being one of them. 

In an interview with NBC, current U.S. Women’s rugby player Ilona Maher stated that “We say in rugby a lot that we want to pass the jersey (to the next generation) … I think today we really made the jersey better so that other young girls can grow up wanting to play rugby.”

This win undoubtedly showcased the strength and talent of the U.S. Women’s Rugby team, while simultaneously underscoring the importance of breaking down our constructs around femininity both on and off the field. Knight stressed the urgency of expanding our views around gender, saying that these athletes “…are great at what they do in these sports, they are great technically… and they still reserve their right to be women, whatever that looks like for them. They define that, not society.”

So what does Knight have to say to those whose interest in rugby was piqued after watching the Olympics? “Just ‘try’ it!” she teases, laughing at the rugby pun. Knight describes the rugby community warmly, sharing the variety of positions on the field, the strong worldwide network, and the sense of belonging and acceptance that is inherent to the rugby community whether you are in the game or in the stands cheering on these incredible players.