USA Women’s Eagles chase fifth straight win with four changes against Italy

USA Women’s Eagles boss Jack Hanratty has made four changes to his starting team as they look to win a fifth Test match in a row.

The only team unbeaten in WXV Global Series, the seventh-ranked team in the world beat Italy 36-27 last time out in Texas and will take on the same opposition this Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.

One of these alterations comes in the front-row, where Laryn Carlton will earn her first cap at loosehead prop. She joins Kathryn Treder and Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele. Hallie Taufoou and Rachel Ehrecke are the lock partnership.

Hann Humphreys is preferred to Kapoina Bailey in the back-row – they join co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding and Freda Tafuna in the back-row.

In the backs, Taina Tukuafu is named at scrum-half. Abigail Paton, who started last time out, drops to the bench. Tukuafu will partner fly-half Nina Mason. Bella Vogel and Emily Henrich continue as the centre partnership.

The sole change to the back three sees Telesi Uhatafe drop out of the team entirely, with veteran back Alev Kelter named on the wing. It is the 35-year-old’s first involvement in WXV Global Series after she spent September playing Ultimate Sevens.

Hanratty has a strong bench at his disposal. Not only are 50 cappers Hope Rogers and Kate Zackary among the replacements, co-captain Erica Jarrell-Searcy is included, as are Paige Stathopoulos, Reece Woods, Bailey, Paton and Katana Howard.

After this weekend’s game at Geodis Park, the Eagles will host the Red Roses at New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium.

USA Women’s Eagles matchday 23 v Italy | WXV Global Series 2026

15 Ashley Cowdrey
14 Bulou Mataitoga
13 Emily Henrich
12 Bella Vogel
11 Alev Kelter
10 Nina Mason
9 Taina Tukuafu
1 Lauryn Carlton*
2 Kathryn Treder
3 Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele
4 Hallie Taufoou
5 Rachel Ehrecke
6 Hann Humphreys
7 Georgie Perris-Redding (co-captain)
8 Freda Tafuna

Replacements
16 Paige Stathopoulos
17 Hope Rogers
18 Reece Woods
19 Erica Jarrell-Searcy (co-captain)
20 Kapoina Bailey
21 Kate Zackary
22 Abigail Paton
23 Katana Howard
*debut