Team USA Flag Bearers Lead Delegation at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
Beach volleyball athlete Caden Phillips and rugby sevens athlete Luisa Moala will lead Team USA into the Opening Ceremony on October 31 as flag bearers for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, the USOPC reported. The delegation brings 29 athletes across 12 sports to the first Olympic event ever held on the African continent.
Rugby Sevens Schedule and Pool Draw in Senegal
The women’s rugby sevens tournament runs from November 1 through November 3, featuring eight teams competing across two pools over three days of round-robin and medal matches. Pool A includes Australia, China, Kenya, and hosts Senegal, while Pool B features Czechia, Madagascar, Spain, and the United States, according to svns.com.
New Zealand will not defend the gold medal won at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. The 2022 tournament was postponed to 2026 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening the field for a new champion.
USA Roster Selection and Grassroots Funding Challenges
USA Rugby Pathway coaches selected the 12-player squad through domestic competitions, Talent ID Days, and High Performance Evaluation Camps. Co-captains Abbey McGettigan and Luisa Moala lead a western-heavy roster that includes players from Utah, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as Goff Rugby Report detailed. Fundraising efforts organized by KJ Feury have worked to cover team travel, nutrition, and equipment expenses not fully met by the team budget. Additional challenges include funding for a planned Jersey Ceremony at the US Embassy in Dakar.
The 12-athlete roster features Eseta Moala and Ella Mornihan as the 15-year-olds on the squad, alongside players such as prop/wing Sofie Ferri from Hudson, Ohio, and 16-year-old Mallory Crawford and 17-year-old Rebekah Jenks out of Idaho. Colorado is represented by Summit HS wing Avery Russer. Players with extensive club experience include Chloe Gandy of the Chuckanut Rugby Club in Ferndale, Wash., Hunivaololo Folau of Westlake Drua in Utah, and Lavinia Lavi
Lomu of the United Rugby Club and Utah Cannibals.
Beach Volleyball Schedule for Phillips and Mortensen
Beach volleyball athletes Caden Phillips and Gavin Mortensen open their competition schedule on October 31 against Brazil. The pair earned their selection after winning the U.S. Youth Olympic Beach Trials and placing ninth at the U18 Beach Volleyball World Championships, USA Volleyball reported.
Caden and Gavin have worked hard to earn this opportunity. They’ve built a strong partnership through their hunger to learn and compete, and by always having each other’s backs,
said U.S. head coach Billy Allen. I’m grateful to coach them at the Youth Olympic Games, and I know they’ll compete together and represent the United States with pride.
Phillips stated: I am so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to play at such a high level with all of these amazing athletes, I am truly so lucky to have this chance to represent my country and words can’t express how excited I am.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dakar 2026
When do the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games take place?
The Games run from October 31 through November 13, 2026, marking the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Who are the youngest players on the USA women’s rugby sevens squad?
Fifteen-year-olds Eseta Moala and Ella Mornihan are the youngest players on the 12-athlete roster representing the United States in Senegal.
Where can viewers watch the rugby sevens matches?
Matches from the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games stream live and free on Olympics.com and the NBC Olympics Network.