United States' Ilona Maher celebrates after winning their women's quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between Great Britain and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
US women beat Britain in Olympic rugby 7s to set up semifinal against defending champion New Zealand
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Ilona Maher created a try and almost scored another as the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team reached the Olympic semifinals for the first time with a 17-7 win over Britain on Monday. Now for the tougher part: a semifinal against defending champion New Zealand. The New Zealanders trounced China 55-5 in the quarterfinals and appear to be peaking at the right time.
New Zealand’s Jazmin Feliz-Hotham runs onto score a try during the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between New Zealand and China at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
So does 2016 gold medalist Australia, with Maddison Levi scoring three tries in a thumping 40-7 quarterfinal win over Ireland to increase her tournament tally to an Olympic record 11. It was the second meeting of the day between those teams and quite a contrast after the Australians only narrowly won 19-14 to finish the group stage unbeaten.
Ian Jason of France reacts with teammates after loosing the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between France and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. Canadian won the game 19-14. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The world sevens series champions will next take on a Canada lineup coming off a 19-14 win over host France. France’s loss in the quarterfinals meant two of the three medal-winning women’s teams from the Tokyo Olympics didn’t make it back to the medal rounds. France lost the Tokyo final to New Zealand, but were hopeful of making it a golden double for the hosts in Paris after the men’s team led by Antoine Dupont beat two-time champion Fiji to clinch the title on Saturday night. The Fijian women took bronze in Tokyo but haven’t won a game in Paris, losing to Canada, China and New Zealand in the pool stage and to 28-22 Brazil. The semifinals will be played Tuesday afternoon and the rugby sevens program concludes with a night final to crown the champion women’s team.
The United States team celebrate after winning their women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between Great Britain and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. The US on the game 17-7. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Canada’s Piper Logan drives on to score a try during the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between France and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Canada’s Asia Hogan-Rochester, on the ground, get the ball away out of a ruck during the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between France and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Ian Jason of France reacts after she scores a try during the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between France and Canada at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)United States’ Kristi Kirshe fends off the challenge of Great Britain’s Ellie Boatman, left, during the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between Great Britain and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)United States’ Alena Levy, left, tackles Great Britain’s Lauren Torley during the women’s quarterfinal Rugby Sevens match between Great Britain and the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Brazil’s Thalia Costa looks to pass the ball as Fiji’s Alowesi Nakoci challenges during the women’s placing 9-12 Rugby Sevens match between Fiji and Brazil at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Ireland’s Eve Higgins, left, fends off the challenge of Australia’s Maddison Levi, during the women’s Pool B Rugby Sevens match between Australia and Ireland at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)Australia’s Maddison Levi hands the ball to teammate Tia Hinds, as she celebrates after scoring try during the women’s Pool B Rugby Sevens match between Australia and South Africa at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, France, Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
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