2026 WER: Schedule, Results, How to Watch

Year 2 of Women’s Elite Rugby officially kicks off on Saturday, May 2, 2026. All six founding teams are back to compete in professional stadiums across the country for a season focused on visibility and long term growth.

The inaugural WER season established a thrilling baseline of competition, anchored by the dominant Denver Onyx. Denver captured the first ever Legacy Cup title by storming back from an early deficit to defeat the New York Exiles 53 to 13, capping off a regular season where they went 9 and 1 out of their world class fortress at Infinity Park. New York enters the new season incredibly hungry for redemption as the only squad to hand the champions a regular season loss. They are joined in their pursuit by the Bay Breakers, who narrowly missed out on a championship appearance by a single standing point and are making a move to Sacramento’s Heart Health Park to fuel their title ambitions.

The rest of the league is packed with teams eager to completely rewrite their narratives. The Boston Banshees return to their intimate fortress at Veterans Memorial Stadium, banking on veteran leadership and explosive try scorers to push them to the top of the hierarchy. Meanwhile, TC Gemini brings their signature physical, defensive-first identity back to Minnesota’s state of the art TCO Stadium, hoping to lock down more close victories. Looking to bounce back from a tough winless campaign, the Chicago Tempest have relocated to a dedicated 3,000 seat facility at Benedictine University under full time head coach Kristin Zdanczewicz, hoping to channel their near misses into a major competitive breakthrough on the pitch.

Season 2 Strategy

WER has pushed its season kickoff back to May to ensure elite players can seamlessly represent their clubs after the international Pacific Four Series wraps up in April and before the fall WXV window opens. This calendar shift sets a new standard for the league’s second season as the dominant Denver Onyx return to defend their title at Infinity Park after defeating the New York Exiles 53 to 13 in last year’s Legacy Cup. The hungry Exiles, who handed Denver their only regular season loss last year, are out for immediate redemption, while the high-octane Bay Breakers are making a massive move to Sacramento’s Heart Health Park to fuel their own title ambitions after missing the championship game by just a single standings point.

The Policy Pivot: A Shift in Eligibility

As the new season gets underway, spectators will notice that the team rosters look different this year. USA Rugby, the national governing body, has implemented a policy allowing only AFAB (assigned female at birth) athletes to compete in the women’s division. As a sanctioned professional league, WER is required to follow these guidelines to protect its players’ access to the national team, Olympic pathways, and vital insurance protections.

While WER leadership has stated they do not agree with the policy, following it was necessary to maintain their sanctioned status and ensure the league’s long-term viability. The league is moving forward with a deep sense of gratitude for the season ahead, but also with acknowledgment for the teammates and friends who are no longer on the pitch. To guide ongoing inclusion efforts, WER has established a League Resource Group of players and staff, and is partnering with organizations like You Can Play to keep the community supported at all levels.

The Post-Season

While the regular season is locked in through July 26, the exact format for the 2026 post-season remains a mystery for now. Last year featured a straight shot to the Legacy Cup, but many fans are hoping for an expanded format that includes a semifinal round before the Championship match. We will be watching closely for updates on how the road to the 2026 title will look.