Hold onto your seats, rugby fans, because Braxton Sorensen-McGee is rewriting the rulebook! The 19-year-old sensation, fresh off a dazzling Women’s Rugby World Cup performance, has just scored her first try in the HSBC SVNS Series, proving she’s a force to be reckoned with on both the 15s and 7s stages. But here’s where it gets even more impressive: Sorensen-McGee didn’t just score—she dominated, racking up 13 points in New Zealand’s commanding 38-10 victory over Great Britain in Cape Town.
This isn’t her first rodeo, though. Sorensen-McGee burst onto the international scene in May, earning Player of the Match honors on her debut for New Zealand’s 15s team. She scored two tries in a 38-12 win over Australia, signaling the arrival of a new rugby powerhouse. And this is the part most people miss: her Rugby World Cup performance was nothing short of legendary, with 11 tries in just six appearances—whether on the wing or at fullback. No wonder World Rugby crowned her the 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
Her inclusion in the Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2025/26 SVNS Series was no surprise, but her impact? Absolutely electrifying. In Cape Town, she wasted no time, setting up the team’s first try with a conversion before racing away for her own five-pointer just minutes later. But here’s the controversial bit: Great Britain’s defense was caught off guard by an intercepted pass, and Sorensen-McGee capitalized with ruthless efficiency. Was it luck, or is she just that good? You decide.
Teammates like Risi Pouri-Lane and Katelyn Vahaakolo were quick to celebrate, but Sorensen-McGee wasn’t done. She added another conversion, helping the Black Ferns Sevens build an unassailable lead. Vahaakolo and Theresa Setefano extended the advantage, while Great Britain’s Nia Fajeyisan fought back in the seventh minute. Yet, New Zealand never looked threatened, with Vahaakolo and Mahina Paul sealing the deal in the second half.
But let’s pause for a moment: Is Sorensen-McGee the future of women’s rugby, or is she already defining its present? Her rise has been meteoric, but what’s next? Can she sustain this level of performance across both formats? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a debate worth having.
Meanwhile, the weekend wasn’t just about Sorensen-McGee. Japan’s women’s team continued their winning streak, defeating Canada 26-19, thanks to Sakura Mizutani’s double. Australia bounced back from their Dubai Sevens Cup Final loss with a 41-0 thrashing of France, and the USA kicked off their campaign with an eight-point win over Fijiana. Yet, it’s hard to ignore the star of the show—Braxton Sorensen-McGee. Love her or envy her, she’s a name you’ll be hearing for years to come.
