Despite the USA Women’s Eagles taking the initial lead, the New Zealand Black Ferns took it and never looked back as they demolished their competition in a 79-14 victory on May 23 and into the early morning on May 24.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe led the Black Ferns in a confident performance that saw her break the all-time tries record after scoring seven tries in the matchup. Woodman-Wickliffe has now amassed 45 tries in just 26 games, helping New Zealand claim the Pacific Four Series trophy.
Freda Tafuna and Hope Rogers made the only two tries for the Eagles, one in the first six minutes and another 28 minutes in, but connections were scarce afterwards.
Leading by 20 points at halftime, New Zealand dominated in the second, earning seven unanswered tries and looking unscathed in the process. The USA defense seemed helpless, allowing 18 line breaks and giving New Zealand plenty of space to make magic happen.
With the win, the Black Ferns retain their historic streak over the Eagles, as the USA has not defeated New Zealand in women’s rugby since 1991.
The Black Ferns also recapture the Pacific Four Series title after needing a 25-point win to best Canada, who beat Australia 45-7 earlier in the day.
Relive the game below!
Black Ferns Win! – 81’USA 14, NZ 79
A complete and dominant performance from New Zealand is appropriately ended by none other than Portia Woodman-Wickliffe as she sneaks in the corner for a seventh and final try.
She’s done it! Portia Woodman-Wickliffe becomes the record-holder for most tries scored by a @blackferns player 👑 #PacificFourSeries pic.twitter.com/lBZsB0NNJZ
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) May 24, 2025New Zealand Shows No Signs Of Stopping – 73’USA 14, NZ 74
The Black Ferns have found massive success in passing wide and it has allowed them to completely blowout the Eagles. Stacey Waaka gets the try for New Zealand following a series of swift passes.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Leads All-Time Tries – 68’USA 14, NZ 67
Completely breaking loose from the line with plenty of space to do so, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe takes the lead for all-time tries in Black Ferns history with six tries. A missed conversion doesn’t mean much with the extensive lead that New Zealand continues to grow.
Katelynn Vahaakolo Wreaking Havoc – 63’USA 14, NZ 62
Katelyn Vahaakolo finds space on the left side to stack another try for the Black Ferns. The crowd responds to a Hannah King conversion with cheers.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Ties Black Ferns Record – 58’USA 14, NZ 55
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is now tied for most tries of all-time for the Black Ferns after earning her fifth try of the matchup. The USA looks to make the most of the last 20 minutes of the half and clean up some defensive communication issues.
New Zealand Looks Unstoppable – 48’USA 14, NZ 48
Making the initial break for New Zealand, Sariah Ibarra opens things up for the Black Ferns after their previous failed attempt. Jorja Miller takes it down the side and sends it to Portia Woodman-Wickliffe for her fourth try of the game. Not long after, the Black Ferns claim another try thanks to Ruahei Demant, who added four more conversion points.
Second Half Underway – 41’USA 14, NZ 34
Katelyn Vahaakolo finds a massive hole in the Eagles’ defense and takes advantage once again but is tackled before she can hit the try zone.
Black Ferns with pace so far, but 40min left to play.
TRIES: F. Tafuna, H. Rogers
CONV: M. Hawkins (2)#USAvNZL | @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/soSQqGEi5x
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) May 24, 2025Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Caps Off The Half – 40’USA 14, NZ 34
It was all gas and no brakes for Portia Woodman-Wickliffe as she scores with another hat trick. The conversion misses the posts but the Black Ferns take a comfortable 20-point lead as we head into halftime.
Katelyn Vahaakolo and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe earn hat tricks for the @blackferns as the first half closes out at North Harbour Stadium #PacificFourSeries pic.twitter.com/T4OWAOb5Es
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) May 24, 2025New Zealand Hat Trick – 36’USA 14, NZ 29
Katelyn Vahaakolo extends New Zealand’s lead with a hat trick and finds the corner of the try zone with success. The conversion is no good.
USA Pushes Back – 28’USA 14, NZ 24
Despite the pressure, Hope Rogers gets the ball past the line and gets a try for the Eagles, and McKenzie Hawkins finishes with a successful conversion.
Another One For The Black Ferns – 26’USA 7, NZ 24
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe quickly adds another try after Braxton Sorenson-McGee flies down the field. Ruahei Demant gets the conversion.
New Zealand On A Roll – 23’USA 7, NZ 17
Slipping into the corner of the try zone, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe plants another try for New Zealand, but the Black Ferns once again miss the conversion.
Black Ferns Breaking The Defense – 14’USA 7, NZ 12
Katelyn Vahaakolo gets her second try of the game thanks to teammate Jorja Miller bursting through the Eagles’ defense. New Zealand misses the conversion but takes the lead.
The @blackferns strike back twice with two tries in four minutes to retake the lead #PacificFourSeries pic.twitter.com/RaLqqCV92i
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) May 24, 2025New Zealand Answers – 12’USA 7, NZ 7
The Black Ferns leave the Eagles scrambling to catch up as a series of passes ends in a try for Katelyn Vahaakolo. Ruahei Demant adds the conversion kick to tie things up.
USA Takes The Lead – 6’USA 7, NZ 0
Freda Tafuna touches down for the Eagles after a determined USA squad pushes through a solid Black Ferns defense. McKenzie Hawkins makes the conversion kick.
The Game Begins – 0’USA 0, NZ 0
The New Zealand Black Ferns and the USA Women’s Eagles hit the ground running in their final matchup in the Pacific Four Series. The Black Ferns kick to the Eagles and the match is en route.
USA Women’s Eagles Have Landed
Eagles on the scene in Auckland 📍 pic.twitter.com/Agih8VBiVG
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) May 24, 2025Black Ferns Vs. USA Women’s Rugby All-Time Record
The New Zealand Black Ferns harbor a 14-1 winning record over the USA Women’s Eagles across the 15 test matches they have played. The two first met on the biggest stage the sport has to offer during the 1991 Women’s Rugby World Cup semifinals.
It also happened to be the one and only time that the USA has defeated New Zealand in women’s rugby. The Women’s Eagles slipped away with a mere 7-0 victory, but went on to win the 1991 World Cup by overcoming England in the finals.
The Black Ferns have outscored the Women’s Eagles 660-51, making 100 more total tries and 50 more total conversions than the Women’s Eagles.
New Zealand Black Ferns LineupKate HenwoodGeorgia PonsonbyVeisinia Mahutariki-FakaleluAlana BremnerMaiakawanakaulani RoosLiana Mikaele-Tu’uJorja MillerKaipo Olsen-BakerRisi Pouri-LaneRuahei DemantKatelyn VahaakoloTheresa SetefanoStacey WaakaPortia Woodman-WickliffeBraxton Sorenson-McGee
Substitutes: Vici-Rose Green, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Tanya Kalounivale, Chelsea Bremner, Kennedy Tukuafu, Maia Joseph, Hannah King, Sylvia Brunt
USA Women’s Rugby LineupHope RogersPaige StathopoulosKeia Mae SagapoluHallie TaufoouErica JarrellFreda TafunaKate ZackaryRachel JohnsonOlivia OrtizSariah IbarraCheta EmbaMcKenzie HawkinsIlona MaherEmily HenrichBulou Mataitoga
Substitutes: Kathryn Treder, Alivia Leatherman, Charli Jacoby, Rachel Ehrecke, Tahlia Brody, Cass Bargell, Nicole Heavirland, Tess Feury
Black Ferns Vs. USA Women’s Rugby Kickoff Time, Date
Coverage of the match begins at 11:25 p.m. ET from North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
How To Watch Black Ferns Vs. USA Women’s Rugby
New Zealand Black Ferns FixturesUSA Women’s Rugby FixturesFriday, May 23 – 10:35 p.m. ET – Black Ferns vs. USA WomenSaturday, July 19 – 5 p.m. ET – USA Women vs. Fiji WomenFriday, August 1 – 6 p.m. ET – Canada Women vs. USA WomenFriday, August 22 – 1:30 p.m. ET – England Women vs. USA WomenSaturday, August 30 – 1:30 p.m. ET – USA Women vs. WallaroosSaturday, September 6 – 7:30 a.m. ET – USA Women vs. Samoa WomenWorld Rugby Women’s RankingsEngland – 97.56Canada – 89.31New Zealand – 89.01France – 85.92Ireland – 78.78Australia – 77.73Scotland – 76.56Italy – 75.23USA – 72.20Wales – 70.81Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Groups
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