Although New Zealand, Fiji, Britain and South Africa are considered more likely to medal in Rio de Janeiro, the United States has emerged as a contender because of its progress during the past 18 months under Coach Mike Friday. At the end of last season, the United States won a world series tournament, the top competition in the sport, for the first time. The team clinched a spot in Rio by winning its regional qualifying tournament.

It has had a solid start to this season’s series, with a third-place finish in the opening round in Dubai, and it is seventh out of 17 teams after four rounds. The next matches will be in Las Vegas from March 4 to 6.

Players are quick to credit Friday, who previously coached the English and Kenyan sevens teams.

“He’s made us believe in ourselves,” said Madison Hughes, the United States’ captain. “We’ve also worked a whole lot harder, and we’ve worked smarter. It’s basically the same set of players that were coming 13th and 14th in the world in previous years. Last year we were sixth, and this year we’re hoping to be even higher. He’s just changed every aspect of the way we approach our rugby.”

While rugby sits well below football, baseball and basketball in the American consciousness, its return to the Olympic roster has given the United States team new resources. Increased funding has allowed American players to compete full time, and they now have access to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The team has also recruited athletic players like Baker and Carlin Isles, a former sprinter who competed in the Olympic trials in track and field.

Rugby has been given a window to gain converts in the United States, among both fans and commercial sponsors.