The 18-year-old is one of several prominent young Black Ferns fighting to retain the title and secure New Zealand’s seventh World Cup
B
ack in 2022, Braxton Sorensen-McGee was in the Eden Park crowd to watch the heart-stopping semi-final between France and New Zealand. The then 16-year-old, at the ground with her school team, remembers the moment of relief when a last-minute French penalty goal attempt drifted wide, allowing the Black Ferns to scrape through to the final of the Women’s World Cup. In another gripping contest against arch-rivals England, New Zealand went on to win the tournament.
Now, Sorensen-McGee hopes to play a decisive role in retaining the title. After a breakout 2025, the 18-year-old is the youngest member of the Black Ferns squad, who take on Spain on Monday morning (NZT) in their opening act of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, hosted by England.
Instead of just watching, as she did that spring evening in 2022, the three-Test full-back hopes to help the Black Ferns secure a record seventh World Cup title – and their third in succession.
