Preparation is everything when it comes to Club 7s Nationals, and poor preparation raises serious questions.

Watch The USA Rugby Club 7s Nationals LIVE on FloRugby

That's the story for Pool C in the Women's Championship, as some teams have been building toward something and others have just been waiting.

Atlanta Harlequins

The 'Quins have been waiting. After qualifying very early in the summer, all Atlanta needed to do was fundraise and scout the opposition. An experienced club coached by people who know how to win in 7s, the Harlequins also have a few additions up their sleeve. Former Georgia Tech standout Chidinma Chukwueke is a rangy, powerful athlete who was an all-tournament selection at College 7s Nationals in previous years. 

Ronn Omondi coaches the team, and he has been at this tournament many times with Atlanta Old White. He understands the grind and won't have allowed the 'Quins to become complacent.

New York Rugby Club

NYRC dominated a pretty strong Northeast qualifier season, winning all three tournaments and taking the No. 1 seed. Jess Davis is the highest profile college players among a group that could augment an experienced club. Davis, an All-American at AIC, was also a WPL All-Star, as were 10 of her teammates. It's that depth of quality that should see NY through.

NOVA

Once perhaps the best women's sevens program in the nation, NOVA is struggling a little. OK, they qualified for Nationals, so it's not as if they don't know what they're doing, but they qualified third in the Mid-Atlantic; that's a drop from the club's storied past.

Still, NOVA has a nice pipeline coming from the University of Virginia, with Summer Harris-Jones an athlete of some quality, and Heather Thompson a bit younger, and formidable up front. And Lauren Hoeck is still around — she can still put fear in the hearts of runners. 

Washington Athletic Club

This group of players competed as Atavus in 2017 and won it all. The players are pretty much the same, and you'd be forgiven for expecting WAC to be a contender again this year. And it could be the case, but it's worth noting that WAC lost twice to ORSU in the Pacific Northwest qualifiers only to toss aside the Oregon rivals and come through as the Pacific North No. 2 seed.

They've picked up an injury or two (who hasn't?) but Kristine Sommer, Jennine Duncan, Kristine Sommer, and Finau Tamaivena were all in the USA 15s camp and could provide that needed combination of speed and power. All-time-leading USA 7s team try-scorer Vix Folayan is part of the Seattle team's squad and could bring that grit they will need.

Their preparation and competition, though, might contrast a little with that of Atlanta. WAC has been playing must-win games for a while now, and that could help.

Our Pick: New York. The pieces are there, and this is basically a home tournament for NYRC. WAC should take second, and can't be counted out on Day 2.