Chicago Tempest Announce 2025 Athlete Roster
Written by Ro Lane, WER
Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) team, the Chicago Tempest, today announced its team roster for the WER inaugural season. The Tempest roster is composed of 30 players – 17 forwards and 13 backs. The team, coached by Bryan Colbridge, will make its debut appearance this March. WER is the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States, and is building up an exciting and inspiring initial season.
“With a huge amount of talent declaring for the WER, I am thrilled with the squad that we have assembled for Chicago Tempest, with players from around the US and beyond that fit the style of rugby we're building towards. We have selected players with a rich blend of cultures, backgrounds and experiences, exciting young players recently out of college and a handful of leaders with a large number of rugby years under their belt. With a focus on attacking flair and fluidity and relentless defensive commitment, all players bring a superstrength to the table, offering a range of complementary skills and the ability to gel quickly as a group,” said Colbridge of the dynamic group. The Tempest roster boasts 18 Women’s Premier League alums, 14 of whom played with the local Chicago North Shore club. The athletes also bring experience at the international and professional level.
Inaugural 2025 Chicago Tempest Roster
Forwards: Ubaida Ahmed, Abby Albrecht, Sarah (Esther) Anderson, Ilene Andrade, Kit Buzby, Sarah Curvin, Anabel Diaz, Tito Harrison, Christen Jackson, Narcisse Jordan, Katie Lamont, Amaryha McGowan, Ashley Mencke, Olga Niyibizi, Ellie Reiter, Kadie Sanford, Jayla Twitty
Backs: Isla Alejandro, MarCaya Bailous, Hali Deters, Jess Dombrowski, Erika Farias, Emma Farnan, Nicole Fisch, Lauren Kuffel, Betty Nguyen, Indigo Niznik-Darden, Adriana Mendoza Silva, Brooke Walklate, Taylor White
Earlier this month, the Tempest announced their Foundational Five (F5) players, who are recognized leaders and trailblazers for the team. Unfortunately, Cienna Jordan, who was previously announced as an F5 athlete, sustained an injury outside of WER competition and has been moved to the Injured Reserve list. The remaining F5 athletes — Anabel Diaz, Emma Farnan, Betty Nguyen, and Kadie Sanford — are joined by the rest of this fierce roster of players to create the Tempest’s unyielding and powerful team that is ready to take on WER’s inaugural season.
Ahead of the franchise’s season opener, the Tempest begin preseason conditioning and practice this week, after all players are cleared as ready-to-play. As one of WER’s flagship franchises, alongside teams in Boston, Denver, New York, San Francisco Bay Area and Twin Cities, the Chicago Tempest are competing for the WER Legacy Cup with the established franchise teams. The 2024 Legacy Cup, the first WER championship, was won by the WPL’s Gray Wolves against the All Blues. As the premier full season of the WER takes place, fans can keep up with the Chicago Tempest via the Tempest’s website, womenseliterugby.us/chicago-tempest and Instagram, @wer_tempest.
About Chicago Tempest
The Chicago Tempest are one of six flagship franchises of women’s professional rugby in the United States, formed by Women’s Elite Rugby (WER). Coached by Bryan Colbridge, who has competed and coached at the elite level, the Tempest aim to embody its namesake as a relentless, destructive storm on the field. With a top-notch roster of 30 select players, the Tempest are set to kick off their season this March. For more information, visit the team’s website, womenseliterugby.us/chicago-tempest and follow the team on Instagram @wer_tempest.
About WER
After the 2022 “Ignite the Change” campaign which sought to professionalize women’s rugby in the United States from the former player run and operated amateur league (WPL), Women’s Elite Rugby was founded and formed. The league announced their official launch in 2024 with the inaugural season starting in March 2025. The season will center six teams in Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, and Twin Cities and feature 180 athletes.
For more information, please contact:
Women’s Elite Rugby