The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships concludes with six games on day ten, including the gold medal matches in the men’s and women’s championships.
Women’s Box Championship Preview | Men’s Box Championship Preview
There is one game of women’s placement play as well as three additional games of men’s placement play.
Both of the gold medal games will be on ESPN2 and also ESPN+. Placement play is available to stream for free on WL TV.
Sunday, September 29
| M/W/# | Team | Team | Time | Venue | Pool |
| M96 | Slovakia (#14) | China (#21) | 9:30 a.m. | ADK | 15th Place (M) |
| W32 | Ireland | Netherlands | 10 a.m. | Nexus 3 | 7th Place (W) |
| M97 | Italy (#16) | U.S. Virgin Islands (#23) | 10:45 a.m. | Nexus 1 | 13th Place (M) |
| M95 | Scotland (#15) | Poland (#24) | 10:45 a.m. | Nexus 2 | 17th Place (M) |
| W35 | Canada | United States | 1 p.m. | ADK | Gold Medal (W) |
| M98 | Canada (#1) | United States (#2) | 4 p.m. | ADK | Gold Medal (M) |
Women’s Gold Medal Preview
Two undefeated women’s box lacrosse teams meet in Utica on Sunday afternoon. One will come out as the first-ever women’s box champion.
Who is more fitting for the challenge than the United States and Canada?
After the top two teams battled through pool play and playoff rounds, they will meet to make history on the final day of the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championships. Both teams have had their eyes set on this meeting, but now the wait is over.
The United States’ journey to the championship game included wins over Haudenosaunee, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Finland, before facing new opponents Australia, Ireland and England in the playoff.
Through the gauntlet of international foes, the goal was still the same: make it to the gold medal game.
“We have a goal to achieve, and we’re going to do whatever we can to make that goal a reality,” Kristen Carr said. “And we’re lucky that we get the chance to play in the gold medal match.”
On the opposite side of the bracket, Canada strolled through pool play and playoffs with ease, relying on multiple players with years of international experience. Canada has found success in other international disciplines, and they’ve been determined to add box lacrosse to their list of successes.
The only way Canada and the United States would see each other is in the championship game. Well, it happened.
“I think all of us have our eyes set on gold,” Katy de Snoo said earlier this week. “But we’re here to work hard until the very last minute.”
Most of these women know what to expect — it’ll be faster, more physical and more intense than any other game they’ve played throughout this tournament. They know this gold medal match is a breeding ground for high-flying moments and an all out battle.
“We’ve all chosen to do this, and when you choose something, you give up something else,” Carr said. “It’s a two week time span that you’re away from, like your life, but you know, we’re staying in the moment.”
It’ll be loud, too. Canada and the United States are facing off in both the women’s and men’s finals, raising the stakes even higher. Family ties come into play, with brothers and sisters playing for their country, and college teammates facing off.
“We’re learning a lot about ourselves as we carry on, but the truth is, you say it enough and it’ll come true,” Carolina Wakefield said. “So the hope is gold, but we’re stoked to be a part of history here.”
Men’s Gold Medal Preview
The continuation of a dynasty or the start of a new chapter? 60 minutes will decide that on Sunday afternoon.
The top two teams of the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships are squaring off one last time to decide a new world champion. Since the championship’s inception, Canada’s men’s team has taken the title. The clear favorite for yet another year, the team has remained undefeated over the last 10 days to find themselves in the title game.
The difference this time: the United States is making its first-ever championship appearance. The U.S. has consistently been in the top three, but has fallen just short of the title bout and settled for bronze.
Not this year.
“The guys deserve it. They’ve been working their butts off, the organization has been working for years,” U.S. head coach Regy Thorpe said Friday night. “We haven’t been able to get over the hump but I’m proud not only of this team, but the teams in the past that paved the way.”
The U.S. broke the pattern in a 12-11 semifinal win over the Haudenosaunee on Friday night, a result that changed the trajectory of the men’s international standings.
Now, Canada has a chance to defend its title as the undefeated champion in a game where it plays a new foe. Its roster is loaded with all-time greats — NLL champions, NCAA stars and a blend of veterans and new faces.
“We are just sort of dialed in in terms of how we want to deliver our systems against anybody,” Canada head coach Glenn Clark said. “Because it’s such a short tournament, we don’t have a 30 game regular season to get ready for.”
The U.S. is experiencing it all for the first time. It finished with a bronze medal for so many years, but now, the team has found itself with an opportunity to continue breaking through barriers set in previous years.
Thorpe created his roster full of players with box experience, and just like Canada, there’s NLL and NCAA leaders who’ve stood out in their individual journeys. The U.S. has also benefited from the likes of its younger players, like Joey Spallina, who’s become a breakout star for the box team.
The United States’ choice of finding an edge has worked. They’re relishing in the joy of playing one more game together.
“For us to be a part of history is really cool,” Connor Kirst said. “We all love this game so much. For us to be the first to do that is pretty special and we’re all happy to be able to compete for a gold.”
Just like the previous rematches, not much will change on paper from the pool play rounds and to Sunday. It’s just two teams fighting for one trophy.
“They know what’s at stake,” Clark said. “Nobody wants to lose these international matches. And when you put your country’s logo on your shirt and you wear that, there’s an inherent pride that goes along with that. It amps up the intensity.”
May the best team win.
Live statistics throughout the day for the women’s championship can be found here and for the men’s championship here.
