Ilona Maher, U.S. Women's Rugby team leave powerful legacy after winning bronze at 2024 Olympics

The USA Women’s Rugby team made history on Tuesday when it became the first to ever take home a medal in rugby sevens, then it landed a whopping $4 million donation from a wealthy sports benefactor.

All of it was possible thanks to the late-game heroics of Alex Sedrick, who took the ball the length of the field at the end of the game to secure the win over Australia.

“It was definitely a long way to go, and I was just trying to remember all the training that we’ve been putting in for months,” Sedrick told NBC on Wednesday morning. “I was like I’ve just got to get downfield. My lungs and my legs were definitely burning out a bit, but grateful to make it over the line.”

From there, the emotions immediately began pouring out as players realized the enormity of what they’d accomplished.

“I called my husband,” Sedrick said. “He was in the stands and he was just so proud of me. My whole family was just like sobbing and it was just a really special moment. I’m so happy that they were able to make it out to Paris.”

The moment was equally special, not just because they players could enjoy their rugby accomplishment now, but because they’ll likely be able to enjoy it well into the future. That $4 million donation might just have secured the future of the program.

It might not have survived otherwise.

“I think we all can say we were so grateful because I think we really believe we deserve it, and we got this medal to prove that we deserve it, because before our last tournament it was kind of like, ‘We need to get a medal or we might not have a program next year,'” team captain Ilona Maher explained. “Our coach genuinely told us that. So we took that on because we’re trying to make this program better for the next people.

“Like Naya (Tapper) has left a legacy and we’re trying to make it so that girls can dream of being professional rugby players and they can dream of being an athlete, which I don’t think a lot of us ever dreamed of, of this being our careers.”

Tapper, another athlete on the team and one whose playing days are now likely behind her, also chimed in on the win.

“I mean it feels amazing,” she said. “I don’t think I could have picked a better situation or a way to end my career. I’m so happy that the girls allowed me to leave in this type of manner. I’m very grateful for them, for our staff, for our whole organization, for the support that they’ve provided all of us and myself and the support they’ll continue to provide me once I’m gone.”

With the dust settled on the bronze medal performance, the reality can begin to sink in.

This group of American women set an example that others can follow in the sport for years to come. They’re inspiration for the next generation.

“I mean we definitely want to get more people into our sport, rugby,” Maher said. “For how it’s changed our lives and for how it’s changed our view of our bodies and what we’re capable of, I just think it can have that power for so many other girls. So we just love to see more people into it, and even if it’s not rugby it’s other sports, water polo. Girls do something that really shows them how amazing they can be.”

The next set of Olympic games will be in Los Angeles, on home soil for the Americans. And you can bet there will be more than a few tuning into rugby at this point.

Whether they see some of this year’s stars on the field remains to be seen. But everyone involved will be watching.

“I will be there, whether I’m playing or not is still up to be determined,” Sedrick said.