From the World Cup to WER, Catie Benson is a force to be reckoned with.
Hailing from Buffalo, New York, Catie Benson is a force to be reckoned with. Initially excelling as a cross-country runner, she made the switch to rugby at Penn State University and quickly rose to become one of the top collegiate players in the nation. With the Nittany Lions, she played a key role in securing five national titles across both fifteens and sevens. Her standout performances earned her a spot on the USA U20 team in 2012, along with Collegiate All-American honors in 2014 and 2015.
Benson made her international debut for the U.S. in 2016 and has since earned dozens of caps, becoming a consistent selection at the highest level. She represented the United States at multiple major tournaments, including the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017, 2021 (played in 2022) and 2025.
Across her overall international career, Benson has accumulated 47 caps (game appearances) and five points for the United States women’s national rugby team. That longevity is significant, as it shows she has been consistently selected through multiple World Cup cycles, a strong indicator of performance and reliability at the highest level.
At the 2017 World Cup, Benson recorded zero tries and zero points, which is not shocking for a prop, but her work rate showed up in other areas: she made seven tackles, 13 carries and 40 meters gained, along with a handful of passes, highlighting her role as a physical ball carrier and defender in the forwards.
By the time of the 2021 tournament and the 2025 World Cup, Benson had transitioned from a developing player into a veteran presence. Overall, Benson’s World Cup career is best defined not by scoring totals, but by consistent forward play: solid defensive numbers, reliable ball carrying and the ability to compete against top international packs across three tournaments. She has also competed in events such as the Pacific Four Series and earlier in the Women’s Rugby Super Series, gaining experience against top international competition.
At the club level, she helped Life West Rugby capture three national championships before moving to England to play four seasons with the Sale Sharks. In 2025, she returned to the United States to join the Boston Banshees for the inaugural season of the Women’s Elite Rugby competition. Last year, Benson made two caps for the Banshees. It would not be surprising if Benson collects more caps now that the WER has found more of its footing.