Phaidra Knight

Before Ilona Maher, there was Phaidra – the first true superstar of the women’s game – and Phaidra continues to serve as a trailblazing, charismatic star and committed community activist.

 

Her rugby career came at her fast. In 1997, she picked up a rugby ball as a member of the University of Wisconsin women’s team, and by 1999, she was a rising star on the US WNT. Her national team career spanned from 1999 to 2017 with 35 international caps. Phaidra was recognized as one of the best players in the world in two positions: prop and flanker. She participated in 3 World Cups (2002, 2006, and 2010). In 2002 and 2006 she was named to the All-World Team. She was selected for the World XV Team to play against New Zealand. In 2010, she was recognized as USA Rugby Player of the Decade. In 2017, she was the first African-American woman and only the second American to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. 

 

Phaidra played for the New York Rugby Club for over 15 years, serving as captain for multiple seasons. She was part of 3 National Championships with New York (2006, 2009, and 2010) and was named MVP of the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) Championship in 2009. 

 

In addition to playing rugby, Phaidra took on multiple coaching and leadership roles, including:

• Forwards coach for Princeton University Women’s Rugby (2016).

• Head coach of Monroe College Women’s Rugby (2017-2018).

• Mentor and coach at Play Rugby USA and the Community Development Olympic Program.

• Strength and conditioning coach for Columbia University Women’s Rugby (2007-2010).

• Coach of high school boys at Rikers Correctional Facility

Phaidra served on the Board of Directors for the USA Rugby Board. Most notably, in 2021, she served as the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and continues to serve the WSF on its Board of Trustees.

 

In 2019, Phaidra founded the PeaK Unleashed Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on the development of marginalized youth through rugby, yoga, and education, with an emphasis on incarcerated and exploited populations. In 2020, she launched PSK Collective, a clothing brand that supports social justice causes.

 

Most recently, Phaidra has been active in Broadcasting, working with ESPN, NBC, CBS Sports, Flo Sports, and USA Rugby TV. She made her debut as an analyst during the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. She was quickly picked up by NBC and went on to be part of their Olympic broadcasting team for the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

In 2021, she was Named to Sports Illustrated’s list of 100 Most Influential Black Women in Sports. Phaidra was featured in Halle Berry’s 2020 film, Bruised (the scene where Phaidra knocks Halle Berry out is pure gold).

 

In 2021, Phaidra launched a new career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). She currently trains at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, with plans to make her professional debut.

 

Phaidra has a JD from the University of Wisconsin and lives in New York City.