NEED TO KNOW

• Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders gives viewers an inside look at the audition process for the elite squad
• Season 3 has yet to be confirmed, but off-screen, fans have been anticipating who might make the team for the 2025-2026 season
• On July 17, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders announced on Instagram that six rookies made the squad

A new generation of rookies has had their dreams come true by making the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 2025-2026 team.

In June 2024, Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hit Netflix and brought viewers into the grueling (but rewarding!) audition process of making the elite squad. Over the course of its first two seasons, fans became passionate about veterans and rookies alike, while also growing attached to some hopeful cheerleaders who got cut during training camp.

Although season 3 of America’s Sweethearts has yet to be confirmed, fans of the show were still waiting behind the scenes to see which veterans made the 2025 team — and if anyone who got cut last year had finally earned their spot on the squad.

On July 17, the team announced their 2025 roster in an Instagram post, revealing that six rookies have made the team, including fan-favorite Jenna Waller, who was the last to be cut in season 2 of the show.

Former rookie Charly Barby commented, “OUR TEAM 🥹🩷 6 perfect hardworking amazing & dedicated DCC ROOKIES!!!!!! So incredibly deserving. What an amazing summer & an even better season to start!!!!”

From new faces to one “comeback girl,” here are the six rookies who made the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 2025 team.

Jenna Waller

Waller, an Oklahoma University graduate and former OU Pom squad member, was the final woman cut during training camp on America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders season 2. During her heartbreaking exit, DCC director Kelli Finglass told Waller that she “peaked at the right time for a strong impression for the next time,” but that it was “a little too late for the decision at hand for this season.”

The San Diego native returned for another chance in 2025, made it to training camp, and ultimately secured a spot on the squad. Waller celebrated the news on her Instagram Stories, writing, “Still in absolute shock!!!”

Former rookie Barby (who knows a thing or two about being cut during training camp) also celebrated the news by posting a TikTok video that read, “You look happier … Thanks my comeback girl made the team,” before Waller joined her on-screen for a hug.

Barby captioned the post, “LAST CUTS -> COMEBACK GIRLS!!!! Forever so proud of you.”

Madeline “Maddy” Unger

Among the new faces that made it onto the team is Madeline “Maddy” Unger, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate and Husker Scarlets Dance Team alum. Per her Instagram, the Nebraska native graduated from the school in May 2025.

In March 2025, she shared a carousel of Instagram photos from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Prep Intensive, captioned, “What an amazing + inspiring weekend in Dallas ⭐️💙.”

Fast forward to July, Unger made the squad and announced the news in a heartfelt message on her Instagram Stories.

“I am so honored to say that I’m officially a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader,” she wrote. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the support I’ve received along the way, and am so blessed to be chosen to present this incredible organization.”

Brenley Herrera

Joining the DCC 2025 rookie class is Brenley Herrera, who is from Fort Worth, Texas, per her Instagram bio. Prior to putting on her DCC boots, she spent the last four years as a pom dancer at Texas Tech University, as she shared on Instagram.

A few days before the 2025 team announcement, the cheerleader shared an Instagram carousel of photos, including some from throughout the audition process and training camp, captioned, “life is really good :).”

Herrera celebrated the news by reposting the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Instagram photo to her Instagram Stories, writing, “THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!”

Parker Kilpatrick

Kilpatrick grew up training at Elevate Dance Center, per her Instagram bio, and went on to join the pom team at the University of Texas. She graduated in May 2023, according to her Instagram.

Kilpatrick, who is from College Station, Texas, isn’t new to the navy-and-white uniform as she was formerly part of the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue, the NFL team’s co-ed dance crew and drumline, per her Instagram bio.

After the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders shared the photo of the new rookie class, Kilpatrick commented on the post, “THE MOST AMAZING SURPRISE!!!🤩🤩🤩.”

Faith Ward

Faith Ward, who is from Wellington, New Zealand, is making her DCC debut as part of the rookie class. She was previously a dancer on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, she shared on Instagram in October 2023.

After making the squad, Ward shared a TikTok video holding up her new uniform, writing, “Officially the 1st New Zealand & 3rd Australian to make DCC 😭.”

“So incredibly honoured 😭🩷🇦🇺🇳🇿,” she captioned the post.

Ward then re-posted the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ photo of her holding the uniform onto her Instagram Stories, writing, “will never recover from this moment.”

Morgan Perschy

Rounding out the DCC 2025 rookie class is Morgan Perschy, an Arizona State University dance team alum.

Like Unger, Perschy attended the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Prep Intensive in March 2025 and shared photos on Instagram.

“The best weekend at the @dccheerleaders Prep Intensive❤️,” she captioned the post. “So grateful for this experience! Feeling so inspired.”

During the training camp process, the official Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Instagram account shared a photo of her during uniform tailoring. She re-posted the photo to her own Instagram Stories, writing, “This day was a dream.”

Read the original article on People