Teen sensation Sorensen-McGee shines at her first Women's Rugby World Cup

LONDON (AP) — At her first Rugby World Cup at the age of 18, Braxton Sorensen-McGee finished as the leading try-scorer and point-scorer.

Then, after helping New Zealand beat France 42-26 for the bronze medal at Twickenham on Saturday, she was selected world rugby's breakthrough player of the year.

“Pretty unreal,” she said. "No words can really explain how I feel right now but I feel great.

“I actually didn't think that I would be close to that (award) at the beginning of the tournament, but here now I'm grateful for how hard I worked for it.”

Sorensen-McGee has been a sensation for the Black Ferns since her two-try debut in May against Australia. A willowy frame gives her a potent grace.

At the World Cup, the youngest of the Black Ferns took her game to another level.

There were hat tricks against Japan and Ireland in the pool stage, two more tries against South Africa in the quarterfinals, one against Canada in the semifinals, and two against France on Saturday.

Her 11 in total are second in one World Cup only to the 13 by teammate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe in 2017. Her 69 points are second only to the 70 in 2014 by England great Emily Scarratt.

Woodman-Wickliffe said she was extremely proud of Sorensen-McGee.

“She has the mannerisms, calmness, knowledge and maturity of more than me,” the rugby great said. “She's amazing, and the way she holds herself she's so coachable, so talented and has the confidence and belief in herself that she can do what she needs to do out on that field.”

Co-captain Ruahei Demant also sang the teenager's praises during the pool stage.

“This is her first time playing at a Rugby World Cup, this is her debut season in the Black Ferns and you wouldn't know,” Demant said. “She is such a wise and mature player. She is one of the smallest players in our team but with the biggest heart and the biggest shoulders. I'm so proud that the world gets to see the talent that she has.”

Sorensen-McGee grew up on rugby league grounds. Five relatives, Sorensens on her maternal side, played rugby league for New Zealand. She took up rugby union at high school and was playing first-class for Auckland in her last two years at school. She graduated to Super Rugby Aupiki this year and her runaway try in the final helped the Blues clinch the title.

Asked how she was so good at so young an age, Sorensen-McGee had the confidence to say, “I think being gifted is one of them (reasons).”

“My mum was pretty good with her soccer and what she played, and growing up with my brother basically mentoring me was really cool, so most of my skills would have come from them,” she said.

During the World Cup, New Zealand forwards coach Dan Cron sat with her at dinner one night.

“She asked me when I first coached the Black Ferns, which was 2005. She wasn't born. It was pretty humbling (for me),” Cron told the Sport Nation radio show.

“She's a special player. We'd clone her if we could. She's only 18 and she's still learning the game, and she's epic. I knew she'd be pretty special but she's just lighting this thing up.”

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New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee during the team run at the Allianz Stadium, London, Friday Sept. 26, 2025, a day ahead of facing France in the third-place play-off match of the Women's Rugby World Cup. (Ben Whitley/PA via AP)

New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee, right, celebrates with teammate New Zealand's Sylvia Brunt, after she scored a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee walks past a World Cup trophy after receiving a tournament best scorer trophy at the end of the Women's Rugby World Cup final match between England and Canada at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee, left, scores a try past Gaby Vernier of France, center and Kelly Arbey of France, right, during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee scores a try during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)