Aly Cunningham

Alyssa “Aly” Cunningham’s success in the rugby world feels almost inevitable — she was immersed in the sport before she could lace her boots. She was given her first rugby ball at just one year old and started playing tag rugby by age five. Aly quickly established herself as a natural athlete. Though she excelled in multiple sports, she narrowed her focus in high school to pursue her true passions: rugby in the spring, summer, and fall, and ski racing in the winter. 

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At Catholic Memorial High School (CMH) in Wisconsin, Aly was a key figure on a strong rugby team that regularly competed at the State, Midwest, and National Championship levels — winning the State and Midwest titles and finishing as national runners-up. Her winter athleticism was just as impressive: Aly was the Individual Wisconsin High School Ski Race Champion in both her junior and senior years. She was captain for both of her teams, and she capped off her high school career as CMH’s 2021 Athlete of the Year. 

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Aly continued her rugby journey at Sacred Heart University (SHU), where she pursued a double major in business management and business analytics, with a minor in computer science. On the pitch, she helped the Pioneers reach new heights and captained the team to several milestone victories over traditional rugby powerhouses. During her four-year tenure, SHU climbed the national rankings with a 5th-place finish at CRAA 7s National Championships in 2024 and a 3rd-place finish in 2025. Aly’s impact didn’t go unnoticed — she was selected All-NIRA First Team 3 years in a row and given the 2024–25 SHU Athletic Director’s Award her senior year. 

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After graduating in May 2025, Aly’s next chapter takes her to the University of Edinburgh, where she will pursue an MSc in management and continue playing rugby at a high level in Scotland. 

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Aly’s talents have also earned her national recognition. Since age 16, she has been invited to multiple USA Rugby age-grade camps, and she will compete with the USA Falcons in Brazil during the summer of 2025. Fresh off graduation, she’s already joined the New York Exiles for the inaugural Women’s Elite Rugby season and is also planning a late summer of 7s competition before heading to Edinburgh. 

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Even when she is not suiting up, Aly continues to give back. She’s coached and managed her former tag rugby team in Wisconsin and recently coached a youth tag rugby team in Connecticut — a full-circle moment for someone whose own rugby story began in a similar way.