The Colorado School of Mines Women's Rugby Silver Side kicked off their 7s season on March 1st at the Air Force 7s Tournament, competing in a challenging Division I pool against Utah State, Air Force 1, University of Colorado Boulder A, and Wyoming 1. While the results on paper were tough, the tournament served as an important opportunity for the team to grow, build chemistry, and find their footing early in the season.

Mines opened the day against Utah State, falling 0–25. Although the Orediggers were unable to put points on the board, there were several moments of strong team play and flashes of potential. Unfortunately, momentum was halted by knock-ons and missed ball-to-hands connections, while small defensive errors allowed Utah State to capitalize and score.

The second match against Air Force 1 marked a significant step forward for the team. Mines came out strong, with Aliya Lynn scoring the opening try of the match. After Air Force responded with a try of their own, Amy Sessions added another score for the Orediggers to give Mines a 14–5 lead heading into halftime. In the second half, however, Air Force found their rhythm offensively and scored four tries to take the match 28–14. Despite the loss, the game showcased clear improvement as Mines moved the ball more effectively through hands and created scoring opportunities through strong teamwork. Defensive shifting proved challenging late in the game, leaving players exhausted and allowing Air Force to break through for several tries.

The Silver Side's third game came against University of Colorado Boulder A, widely considered the strongest team at the tournament. CU came out firing and quickly established control, leading 20–0 at halftime. Mines struggled to gain offensive traction in the first half, turning the ball over through penalties and struggling to generate strong ball carries. Defensively, slow shifts and missed one-on-one tackles allowed CU to stretch the field and exploit space on the edges. In the second half, Mines began to settle in and play more composed rugby, which led to a try from Paige Kieschnick. Despite the improvement, CU ultimately secured a 32–7 victory. The match highlighted areas for growth but also showed the team beginning to clean up early mistakes and work more cohesively as fatigue began to set in.

Mines wrapped up the tournament against Wyoming 1. The Orediggers started strong with Aliya Lynn scoring her second try of the day. Mines moved the ball well through hands and limited Wyoming's opportunities early, heading into halftime tied 5–5. In the second half, fatigue from a long day of rugby began to show. Wyoming capitalized with three unanswered tries before Mines responded late in the match, but the Orediggers ultimately fell 20–10. The final game reflected the physical toll of the day, as the team battled exhaustion and a few injuries.

Several individual performances stood out throughout the tournament. Ayana Mejorado delivered excellent kickoffs all day, consistently putting Mines in strong field position. Aliya Lynn repeatedly contested kicks in the air to regain possession for the Orediggers. Jade Leveille anchored the defense by winning defensive scrums, while Paige Kieschnick made key defensive reads that disrupted opposing attacks and prevented additional scores.

Despite a challenging slate of Division I opponents, the Silver Side demonstrated significant improvement from the first match to the final whistle of the day. The team steadily reduced early mistakes, worked more effectively together, and built stronger chemistry with each game. While the record may not fully reflect the team's development, the Air Force 7s tournament provided a valuable early-season test and a strong foundation for continued growth throughout the 7s season.