The USA women’s team is focused on building momentum in Round 2. The entire program has gained traction, not solely due to Ilona Maher’s success on Dancing with the Stars. Maher and her Bronze-Medal-Winning teammates have ignited a fresh enthusiasm for the sport among young women, and while this is based on anecdotal evidence, it’s […]
The USA women’s team is focused on building momentum in Round 2.
The entire program has gained traction, not solely due to Ilona Maher’s success on Dancing with the Stars. Maher and her Bronze-Medal-Winning teammates have ignited a fresh enthusiasm for the sport among young women, and while this is based on anecdotal evidence, it’s a consistent sentiment that we tend to trust.
Additionally, there is the positive momentum derived from a solid performance in Dubai featuring several new players and fresh leadership.
Kaylen Thomas is leading the charge among the newcomers, showcasing an exhilarating style of play, and Head Coach Emilie Bydwell is confident she can extract even more from the talented athlete.
“Kaylen is an incredibly exciting player with immense potential,” Bydwell remarked to GRR. “She benefited from being in residency throughout last year as a 19-year-old, learning from our senior players, particularly Naya Tapper, who really mentored Kaylen and aided her growth. She had a chance to experience the series with some playing time in Hong Kong and Singapore last year, and now she will take on a crucial role as we progress through this next cycle.”
We at GRR World Headquarters were also taken by Sarah Levy’s physicality. Not typically recognized as a formidable hitter, Levy, the team’s co-captain, delivered some impactful tackles in Dubai.
“Sarah has entered training post-Olympics and has just improved immensely,” Bydwell stated. “She is a remarkably dynamic attacking player, and we intend to leverage that more in Cape Town, but she really excelled defensively, recording the highest tackle count on the team alongside the most turnovers.”
