The World Games 2025 is set for August 7-11 in Chengdu, China with eight teams competing split in women’s sixes competition in two pools. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals.
The full schedule for the event can be found here.
Pool B at The World Games 2025 features the defending silver and bronze medalists in the United States and Australia, and two hungry teams in Ireland and Czechia that topped a field of 12 teams in a European qualifier to earn their way into the field.
The United States will have its eyes set on upending rival Canada and climbing to a summit it has not yet reached in the sixes discipline.
The three other teams in the pool will all back themselves to make a push for a semifinal appearance and a possible medal, with the onus on Australia to hold off challengers Ireland and Czechia.
Jump to Games to Watch
Australia
Six players return from the Australia team that claimed the bronze medal at the last edition of The World Games in 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, led by Theo Kwas, Georgia Latch and goalkeeper Addie Cunningham. Kwas and Latch led the team in points in 2022, with Kwas racking up 15 goals and an assist and Latch providing seven goals and seven assists.
Other veterans of the sixes national program also include Bec Lane and Olivia Parker.
Hannah Nielsen, one of the most decorated players in the sport’s and Australia’s history – a multiple time World Team selection and a World Lacrosse Women’s Championship winner in 2005 – also headlines the squad.
Miriam Suares-Jury joins the team after landing on the World Team at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship in Hong Kong, China. Ocea Leavy also was named to the squad after starring in Hong Kong, and both players currently play collegiate lacrosse in the United States.
Australia finished second place in field lacrosse at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Women’s Lacrosse Championship with a seasoned core of players appearing from that squad again in Chengdu.
Czechia
Czechia fought its way back to The World Games after appearing in 2022 by taking second place at the Women’s European Sixes Qualifier in 2025, with a connected contingent of players teaming up once again.
The entire 12-player squad from the European qualifier reprises its roles in August, with five players also back from the 2022 roster, headlined by the attacking trio of Marketa Malinovska, Anna Lottmann and Michaela Srchova, who all notched more than 10 points in Birmingham.
At the qualifier in Braga, Portugal, Isabella Keyes joined Srchova in leading the attack, as both players recorded over 25 points in six games.
Goalkeeper Katerina Najemnikova made 57 saves in six games at a lofty 65% clip in Braga as well.
Ireland
Ireland makes its debut at The World Games after winning the European Sixes Qualifier outright in dramatic fashion, first securing qualification in the semifinal with an overtime win over Israel before another overtime victory against Czechia.
Seven of the players from the qualifier squad are back for Chengdu, led by goalkeeper Haley Crosson and star attackers Kendra Harris and Gabby Rosenzweig. Crosson made 73 saves in six games at a 57% rate, while Rosenzweig tallied 19 points to lead the team.
Ireland’s upwards trajectory includes a top-ten finish at the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship, with a win over a Japan team that would go on to take the bronze medal.
Harris, as well as attacker Jane Howlett, return from the squad that appeared in Hong Kong. Harris was one of the standouts of the championship with 27 points in six games.
United States
The United States has overhauled its squad in the three years since its silver medal at The World Games, bringing its brightest stars to the competition in Chengdu with an eye on the gold medal.
The roster features five players from the most recent U.S. women’s field championship team as Sam Apuzzo, Ally Kennedy, Ally Mastroianni, Marie McCool and Charlotte North helped the U.S. win the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in 2022 in Towson, Maryland. Six of the 12 players also won World Lacrosse championships in 2024: Shea Dolce (U20), Kennedy (Box), Mastroianni (Box), Taylor Moreno (Box), North (Box) and Madison Taylor (U20).
Five players also competed in the inaugural edition of Women’s Lacrosse League in February, headlined by Mastroianni, North, Moreno and star attacker Izzy Scane.
The players have been building their chemistry together in recent months, with 10 playing in field lacrosse at the 2025 Pan-American Women’s Lacrosse Championship and helping the United States to a gold medal win over Canada. Chloe Humphrey’s 19 points were the highest out of players named in the women’s sixes team.
Games to Watch
USA vs. Ireland // Thursday, August 7, 1 p.m.
The defending silver medalist United States will look to announce its intentions with a revamped squad full of stars on the opening day of action, while Ireland makes its first appearance in the competition.
Ireland vs. Czechia // Friday, August 8, 10:30 a.m.
Both teams met in the final of the Women’s European Sixes Qualifier in March, a 12-11 overtime thriller that went the way of Ireland, with many of the same faces involved again.
On an even bigger stage, the rematch should have more fireworks and drama, as either team will need a win to have any chance of advancing out of the pool with two returning medalists in the other two spots.
Australia vs. Ireland // Saturday, August 9, 2:30 p.m.
Australia will have its eyes set on another medal in Chengdu, and the path will likely include a win on the final day of pool play to advance to the final four. Both teams will have contend with Czechia, but there is a chance Saturday’s contest could be a win to advance scenario.
