USA WOMEN SETTING UP FOR MOVIE DEAL?!

Christy Ringgenberg plays for Team USA’s Eagles & Minnesota Valkyries. She’s witty, pretty and tough.
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO – Americans love an underdog story. More than that, we love sports movies about underdog teams. Mighty Ducks, Miracle, and Rocky I-IV for example. To that end, the USA Women have been setting the stage for the next great American sports movie at the Women’s Nation Cup. The WEagles (Women Eagles)  have fought hard but experienced three losses to England, Canada and South Africa in the last two weeks of the tournament. “We even got the refs in on it!” said veteran player Pam Kosanke.

Movies like Miracle start with sad losing battles against powerhouses like Russia. The defending champions, England are just such a powerhouse and have almost always crushed the USA. Captain Catherine Spencer with her “I must break you.” attitude even resembles Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. This time, England narrowly claimed victory over the WEagles when the referee called a clearly held-up ball a try to end the game 15-11. “We can’t blame the refs for losses but they clearly knew our plan.” Kosanke added.

The 35-17 loss to Canada brought the team one step closer the movie deal and the 26-23 South African victory sealed the deal for the contract.

Kosanke feels that the team atmosphere remains positive and they recognize this is part of the growing process in achieving future success at the 2014 Women’s World Cup. “I feel like I am re-blossoming as a player.” the 33-year-old player says after coming back to rugby after two hip surgeries since the 2006 World Cup. As the oldest player on the team Kosanke also comments that the coaches tell her to sit out a few reps. She was against it, that is until a prop fell on her. It might be time for the team to get back to basics and roller blade through malls in Minnesota like the Mighty Ducks or run up the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art- all of which make for a great training montage.

Having already built their underdog status the WEagles have a re-match with South Africa on Saturday where they fully intend to draw blood and win. Several stars have already stepped forward to play roles.

*Feminists of the world relax; I fully intend to call the Mens Eagles the MEagles from now on.

P.s… Please help the cause here by checking out the columns by England’s Mathew Drew Turner, Eagle Matthew Hawkins and O.U. Coach Tyson Meek, along with the videos – which are pretty cool.

Filed in: Christy Ringgenberg
Tagged with: Christy Ringgenberg • Mathew Drew Turner • Matthew Hawkins • Nation's Cup • Tyson Meek • USA Women's Rugby