The 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship is set for August 15-24 in Hong Kong, China with 20 teams competing split into four pools. The top two teams from each pool advance to the playoffs.
The full schedule for the championship can be found here.
Pool A: China, Germany, Israel, Puerto Rico, United States
The United States is the most accomplished team in the event, with five gold medals in seven appearances, and will back its chances to claim one of the two playoff spots available in this pool.
That leaves a gauntlet of matches between the remaining four teams in a fiercely competitive quintet.
Germany and Puerto Rico finished in the top-ten of this championship in 2019 in Peterborough, Canada, and Israel just posted a top-ten finish at the senior women’s championship in 2022 in Towson, USA.
China should not be counted out with a squad of players with collegiate experience blended with players who have come through the growing domestic development pipeline. China’s team has earned valuable experience playing together at the Heritage Cup in 2024 and in Hong Kong in 2023, that will couple with a boost from the crowd with regional support.
Both Germany and Israel competed in the first ever Women’s U21 European Lacrosse Championship in 2023, hosted by the ELF and Czechia Lacrosse in Prague. Germany finished in seventh while Israel finished in tenth – the two teams met in the group stage which was decided in the final few minutes for a Germany 9-8 victory.
Seven players from that team will suit up again for Germany in Hong Kong, which also gained experience this spring against Scotland, Wales and England at the Home Internationals.
The majority of Israel’s roster is made up of Israel natives and Israel Lacrosse stated, “A better placement in 2024 [than in 2019] is ideal, but it’s not the primary objective of the competition.”
Puerto Rico has posted strong performances in recent competitions, finishing ninth in 2019 at Peterborough with an 8-0 record and claiming 11th at the senior women’s championship in 2022.
The team has a lot to prove and is focused on writing its own unique story – expressing its identity and heritage on the field, while also aiming for a top-five finish. The talented player pool is there to make a run, especially if it can advance out of this group.
As for the United States, the goal will be to go for gold, again, with a roster full of some of the brightest young stars in collegiate lacrosse that is as experienced as it gets, considering the U20 level. The USA will have to peak its performance as the tournament goes on, but it will see a more diverse group of talent in pool play than ever before.
Games to Watch
August 15: Israel vs China, 12 p.m. HKT
The second game of the Women’s U20 Championship features two Pool A teams and will provide a fascinating barometer on both teams development and set the scenarios in motion for the rest of the action.
August 17: Puerto Rico vs. USA, 8 p.m. HKT
While Puerto Rico’s likely path to advancement out of the group does not include a USA win, this game should be a fun showdown between PALA teams and a chance for Puerto Rico to create history against a storied opponent.
August 18: Israel vs. Germany, 2 p.m. HKT
The two ELF teams will meet in a rematch of a tightly contested 2023 battle in Prague, and both teams will need a win here to contend for second place.
August 20: Germany vs. Puerto Rico, 2 p.m. HKT
The pool could shake out a number of ways, but the final day of pool action could feature a de-facto play-in battle for second place and a spot in the quarterfinals between two top-ten finishers in 2019.
