After finishing a four-week field lacrosse season in August, fifteen Athletes Unlimited athletes from season four are quickly turning gears and setting their eyes on the first ever women’s World Lacrosse Box Championship.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse is a women’s professional lacrosse league in the United States, featuring 56 of the best players in the world. The league is run on an individual points system, with various stats earning a certain number of points for individual players. Every week the teams switch and the four athletes with the highest total amount of cumulative points are elected as the next week’s captains. Season four concluded with Sam Apuzzo winning the league, for the first time.
From the 15 athletes playing in the upcoming world championship, 12 are on the United States team, two are on the Canadian team, and one on the German team:
United States: Abby Bosco, Kristen Carr, Marge Donovan, Ally Kennedy, Ally Mastroianni, Charlotte North, Livy Rosenzweig, Courtney Taylor, Caroline Wakefield, Kayla Wood, Madison Doucette, and Taylor Moreno.
Canada: Erica Evans and Megan Kinna.
Germany: Kady Glynn
Three athletes who finished in top four places are part of the United States women’s box team.
Charlotte North competed in her second season, she broke the single-season goals record with 50 and the single-game goals record, scoring eight against Team Kennedy on Aug. 4. In a tight battle down the stretch with Apuzzo, North finished in second place.
Ally Kennedy, who received game MVP honors three times during her fourth AU season, finished in third place. She is looking forward to being the start of something new.
“It’s probably the biggest honor ever any chance I get to represent Team USA,” said Kennedy, who won a gold medal with the U.S. team in field lacrosse at the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. “Being the first is something I have never done, or being part of a team that’s the first is a new experience and it’s been super humbling and just a privilege.”
Ally Mastroianni received game MVP honors four times during the AU season, coming in fourth place. This was her second top four finish as she came in third in 2022. Mastroianni is not new to the United States national team program either as she was a member of the 2022 women’s gold-medal team. She shared what she believes the impact of being a part of the inaugural World Lacrosse women’s box championship would be.
“I think we’re going to pave the way for future generations of women’s box lacrosse players,” said Mastroianni.
The AU season concluded on August 11, a little more than a month before the start of the box championship. These athletes must shift their skills and mindset to step foot into the box arena.
Megan Kinna, who has been playing box lacrosse in Canada since she was a child, alongside many of her Canadian teammates, shared what that transition from field to box would look like for her.
“Definitely a little different conditioning and getting used to some of the physicality, but the physicality has been here [AU games],” said Kinna. “Just have to get used to putting the gear back on and taking some shots from outside and around people.”
Kayla Wood was an alternate for the 2022 U.S. team at the field championships, now she finally gets to suit up for a World Lacrosse championship. Family connections make the opportunity mean more.
“It’s incredibly special,” Wood said. “My dad was in the military, so it feels extra special for me to put on the USA jersey and represent our country, as well as him, and play for something much bigger than myself. We’ve got an incredible team, and I just am looking forward to playing for them and us playing for each other.”
The World Lacrosse Box Championships start on Sept. 20. More information, including ticket links, can be found at https://worldlacrosse.sport/events/2024-world-lacrosse-box-championships/
