Trailing 12-7 vs. Australia, the U.S. needed a miracle in the final seconds of the bronze medal Olympic rugby match, as they were a whole field's length away from scoring and time was nearly all out.
That is to say, Alex Sedrick took possession and decided to put the team on her back during the last play of the game, as 60,000 fans in attendance at the Stade de France stadium looked on. The 27-year-old, who they call "Spiff," trucked the Aussie defenders en route to the best scoring play of her career, a 94-yard "try," which means touchdown in football language.
An astounding finish! AUS had just taken a 12-7 lead and MISSED their conversion attempt! @USARugby regained possession with 36 seconds left!!
Groundbreaking #Rugby7s victory for the women’s team!! 🇺🇸🥉 https://t.co/9oFZG4RawZ
— Polar Ginger (@PolarGinger) July 30, 2024
A FINISH YOU HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE! 😱
ALEX SEDRICK LEADS TEAM USA TO THE FIRST-EVER OLYMPIC RUGBY SEVENS MEDAL FOR THE UNITED STATES ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME! 🥉 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/1FMu9SWxDo
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024
"We knew they were going to kick deep, being ahead in points, so we just trusted our framework and power zone, we just had to go for it," Sedrick, the hero of the match, said.
After the heroic final play, the score was tied at 12-12, then following Sedrick making the conversion they ended the game winning 14-12.
"I was kind of like, 'What is this? No way?' It was crazy because I was like, 'No, there's no way this is happening,'?" Team USA's Ilona Maher told the reporters postgame. "And then for her to have to make the kick as well, and she's not our kicker."
For those wanting to know what this is like in football terms, it's like a Hail Mary attempt, where the defense should be in prevent defense, and somehow the offense breaks one lose to win the game.
What made this moment extra special for the +800 underdog Americans, is that this was the first medal earned in rugby for the U.S. ever in the Olympics. Then, with the dramatic scenario in mind, coming down to the last clutch moment of the game to claim victory over arguably the best team, Australia, this resulted in a storybook finish.
Team USA coach Emilie Bydwell emphasized this same sentiment, "It's really huge, I don't even know if it has fully soaked in beating the best team in the world for a medal... To do it in such an excited fashion, with such belief, that has to be one of the best moments of the Olympics."
THE USA WOMEN'S RUGBY TEAM WINS THE BRONZE MEDAL MATCH WITH NO TIME LEFT 😱 🇺🇸
The first medal ever for USA Rugby at the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/Dmxt2NacWT
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 30, 2024
All in all, the current U.S. women's national team has brought much attention to the sport, as they hope to continue to grow the popularity of rugby in the States.
What a day for USA women's rugby 🤯
🥉 Captured a last-second bronze medal in thrilling fashion
💰 Received a $4M donation from Michele Kang, owner of several pro women's soccer clubs(📸: @USARugby) pic.twitter.com/q90bMRH7ej
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 30, 2024
"We're really trying to raise up rugby in the U.S., especially in the women's game, so hopefully this will inspire someone to pick up a rugby ball," Sedrick said.
Look at what it means! Team USA's Ilona Maher reflects on winning a historic bronze in rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics. https://t.co/NmpMAhg8JX pic.twitter.com/jwEWlRBxDL
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) July 30, 2024
Congratulations to the USA Women's Rugby team! 📸: @ilona_maher pic.twitter.com/REG5PjTCKZ
— Kelce Brothers (@kelcebrothers) July 30, 2024
In view of the gold medal match, New Zealand defeated Canada 19-12 to win back-to-back women's rugby Olympic titles.
