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U.S. Women’s Sevens rugby team takes on France in 2024 Olympics

Co-captained by Naya Tapper, the U.S. women's rugby team competed in a tough match against France on Monday.

PARIS, France — The U.S. Women's Sevens team, co-captained by Naya Tapper, fell to France on Monday in a 31-14 loss. 

Tapper, who graduated from West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, and her team defeated Japan and Brazil on Sunday.

They dominated Japan in a 36-7 win. The team played again at 2 p.m., Sunday, winning 24-5 over Brazil.

Team USA was not able to beat France on its home turf, Monday, losing the match 31-14. 

Tapper was an All-American track and field star at West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, but found rugby at the University of North Carolina, where she joined a club team on campus.

Credit: AP
United States' Naya Tapper fends off the tackle of Brazil's Yasmim Soares in the women's Pool C Rugby Sevens match

Tapper joined the U.S. Women’s Sevens squad in 2016. Her rare combination of speed and power made her one of the best players in team history and landed her an Olympics debut in Tokyo.

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Credit: AP
United States' Ariana Ramsey, is tackled by Seraphine Okemba of France during the women's Pool C Rugby Sevens match

Despite the team's loss against France, this was a record-breaking Olympics for women's rugby. According to the Rugby Sevens organization, a new attendance record for a woman's rugby event was set during this year's Olympics. 

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