As the first ever women’s World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship is about to begin, we take a look at the ten women will be the captains of their respective teams.
England: Annabelle Akintoye
Akintoye makes history as the first Black woman to captain England at a major tournament. She first picked up a lacrosse stick at 11 years old and is now a two-time captain of the Camden Capybaras, an English lacrosse club. Akintoye told England Lacrosse, “It is an absolute honor and a privilege…it is no small feat being the first to do anything, but I can’t wait to step on the floor with Laura Beaman, Lucy Ford and the team, and show the world what we’re made of!”
Haudenosaunee: Fawn Porter
Porter grew up playing box lacrosse and developed box skills more intently than field skills. She has represented the Haudenosaunee in three different lacrosse disciplines — field, box, and sixes. Porter is not new to the international scene as she competed at the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship and The World Games 2022.
Hong Kong: Sally Tang Yi-ting
Tang is not new to international competition as she competed at the 2017 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. At the 2024 She-Box Invitational, she tallied seven goals and four assists. Tang will lead a team that is new to the box lacrosse scene but has a multitude of lacrosse experience.
Netherlands: Hedwig Lambregts
Lambregts has been playing box for five years. She has competed at the 2017 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship and most recently at the 2024 She-Box Invitational. As one of the oldest members of the team, Lambregts has a very experienced lacrosse background to lead a team of box newcomers to the scene.
United States: Emily Hawryschuk
In Hawryschuk’s first international appearance, she was elected captain. She is the all-time leading goal scorer at Syracuse University with 272 collegiate goals. A member of several U.S. training teams, Hawryschuk has been a leader at every training camp since the U.S. began its selection process and now has the chance to lead the women’s team at the first women’s box championship.
Australia: Mel Brickle
Brickle was a co-captain of the 2003 U19 Australian Women’s field team. Most recently, she led 10 of her teammates to the 2024 Australia Box National Championship title with Team Victoria. Brickle said to Lacrosse Australia when sharing about her leadership style she said, “leadership isn’t about being the best but about helping everyone around you, be better. I am a leader that demands 100% effort from each athlete, including myself, whilst injecting a healthy amount of fun and humor along the way.”
Canada: Dana Dobbie
Dobbie, a lacrosse legend, is one of the most experienced athletes in the Canadian lacrosse program since she began her Canadian career in 2003. She is a four-time selection to the All-World team at women’s field championships (2009, 2013, 2017, 2022). Dobbie is not new to the box scene; she signed up to play box lacrosse at the age of 4. Dobbie has a wealth of knowledge and will turn 40 the day after the championship ends.
Germany: Antonia Garbe
Appearing at her fourth international event (2022 and 2017 senior women’s championship and 2011 junior women’s championship), Toni Garbe will lead the Germans. At the 2024 She-Box Invitational, she led the team in points with 14 goals and 6 assists. As a veteran on this team, Garbe will lead this German team with experience and knowledge of the game.
Finland: Suvi Onne
Onne is one of few women to compete in the Bay City League, a predominately men’s box league in Finland. She is also a member of the Koovee lacrosse club in Finland. She most recently led the Finnish team at the 2024 She-Box Invitational.
Ireland: Julia Ruscio
At her international debut, Ruscio has the honor as the first captain for Ireland’s women’s box team. Ruscio, a Mercyhurst alum, totaled 131 goals and 193 draw controls during her collegiate career. She is a member of the Niagara Turtle Islanders, part of Women’s Major Series Lacrosse, Canada’s premier women’s box lacrosse league.
