Alaska’s Alev Kelter and Team USA women’s rugby team take bronze in stunning win over Australia

SAINT-DENIS, France — The U.S. won its first Olympic rugby sevens medal as the women’s team delivered a last-minute 14-12 upset win over Australia in their bronze-medal match Tuesday.

The American women lost to New Zealand in the semis — their first experience at that level — and then stunned the Australians with Alex Sedrick’s length-of-the-field try, and conversion, in the match’s final seconds.

The 2016 champion Australians were leading 12-7 with seconds remaining and deep in U.S. territory. The ball went to Sedrick and she bumped off two tacklers before racing all the way to the other end to score and spark jubilation for the Americans.

The Americans rushed onto the field to celebrate the 14-12 victory. Sammy Sullivan was in tears. Ilona Maher raised both arms up in triumph.

Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” blared over the stadium speakers.

The U.S. women had to wait until after the final between New Zealand and Canada to take their place on the podium.

Eagle River’s Alev Kelter knotted the game for the Americans late in the first half, scoring with a minute remaining to tie the contest 7-7 following the conversion kick.

This marks the first Olympic medal and the third appearance at the Games for Kelter, who played hockey and soccer growing up in Alaska.

[Alaska’s Alev Kelter and Team USA women’s rugby are chasing more than gold at 2024 Olympics]

For Team USA, the playoff against Australia for third place was a case of winning a medal or going home without. After the U.S. women reached the Olympic semifinals for the first time, they lost to defending champion New Zealand earlier on Tuesday, setting up the showdown against Australia.

New Zealand went on to top Canada 19-12 in the gold-medal game to repeat as Olympic champions.

It was a tournament where the North American teams peaked, with Canada upsetting host France in the quarterfinals, 2016 champion Australia in the semis and then leading New Zealand at halftime in the final.

Between Canada’s silver medal and Team USA’s bronze, Tuesday was a statement day for the teams four years before the Olympics are held closer to home, in Los Angeles.