USA Rugby sevens prospect Luisa Moala named Team USA flag bearer for Youth Olympics in Dakar

Luisa Moala, a USA Women’s U18 rugby sevens prospect, has been named one of two flag bearers for Team USA at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, sharing the honour with athlete Abigail McGettigan ahead of the Opening Ceremony.

Moala and McGettigan will also serve as co-captains of the 12-player USA Women’s Sevens squad, which is scheduled to compete from November 1–3. The Dakar Games mark the first Summer Youth Olympics since Buenos Aires 2018 and the fourth edition of the event overall, with approximately 2,700 athletes from across the world set to participate across 12 sports.

Moala, who is from Syracuse, Utah, developed through the USA Pathways programme after competing at both state and national levels. She and her sister Eseta — also selected in the squad — are both products of Northside Girls Rugby, making their joint selection a notable family milestone. Five of the twelve squad members hail from Utah.

“When I put on the USA jersey, I’m not just wearing it for me, but for my family, everyone who has supported me back home, girls who are growing the game of rugby across the United States,” Moala said. “I hope to represent them with pride, gratitude, and humility and show other young girls that they can work toward opportunities like this too.”

Squad members were identified through domestic competitions before being invited to High Performance Evaluation Camps, with final selections made by USA Women’s Sevens Pathways coaches and staff.

Daniel Smith, Director of Summer Games at the USOPC and Team USA Chief de Mission, described the Games as “an important milestone in the development of young athletes, giving them the opportunity to represent Team USA and gain valuable experience competing on the international stage.”

The full travelling squad also includes Mallory Crawford, Sofie Ferri, Hunivaololo Folau, Chloe Gandy, Rebekah Jenks, Sophia Johnson, Lavinia Lomu, Ella Moynihan, and Avery Russer. Four non-travelling reserves — MacKenzie Aluise, Margo Grebinoski, Adria Doyle, and Ilikea Kalama — were also named.