Army West Point Athletics
Ball and Morales Named MA Sorenson Award Nominees
February 24, 2026 | Women's Rugby
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point women's rugby's Cassidy Ball and Yesenia Morales were named nominees for the MA Sorensen Award, which honors the top collegiate women's rugby player in the United States.
The award is named after MaryAnn Sorensen, a groundbreaking USA Rugby player and member of the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup winning team. The nominees were curated by a panel of coaches, along with The Rugby Breakdown and GoffRugbyReport.com.
"The MA Sorensen Award is the highest individual honor in women's collegiate rugby. We are incredibly proud that not one, but two of our own, Yesenia and Cassidy, are among this year's nominees. A recognition they've have truly earned," said Penny Anderson Women's Rugby Head Coach Jenn Salomon-Clayton.
Ball, a sophomore from Jefferson, N.J., was second in points for Army this fall season with 55. She was the team's most dominant finisher, leading all players with 11 tries and was sixth in total carries with 63. Defensively, Ball added 28 tackles. She was named First Team All-NIRA in February.
Morales was a major threat on both sides of the field during the fall. A defensive cornerstone, the Milwaukee native was second on the team with 76 tackles. She was also dangerous in the attacking game, recording six tries, seven assists and 30 total points. Like Ball, she was also named All-NIRA.
The winner will be announced at a gala event at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle in June.
The award is named after MaryAnn Sorensen, a groundbreaking USA Rugby player and member of the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup winning team. The nominees were curated by a panel of coaches, along with The Rugby Breakdown and GoffRugbyReport.com.
"The MA Sorensen Award is the highest individual honor in women's collegiate rugby. We are incredibly proud that not one, but two of our own, Yesenia and Cassidy, are among this year's nominees. A recognition they've have truly earned," said Penny Anderson Women's Rugby Head Coach Jenn Salomon-Clayton.
Ball, a sophomore from Jefferson, N.J., was second in points for Army this fall season with 55. She was the team's most dominant finisher, leading all players with 11 tries and was sixth in total carries with 63. Defensively, Ball added 28 tackles. She was named First Team All-NIRA in February.
Morales was a major threat on both sides of the field during the fall. A defensive cornerstone, the Milwaukee native was second on the team with 76 tackles. She was also dangerous in the attacking game, recording six tries, seven assists and 30 total points. Like Ball, she was also named All-NIRA.
The winner will be announced at a gala event at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle in June.
Players Mentioned
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