The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships introduced women’s teams to the box lacrosse landscape for the first time, and this inclusion is fantastic for several reasons, especially for the overall growth of the game. “Grow the Game” has been a mantra in lacrosse for years, a buzzword often thrown around to symbolize the rising popularity of the sport. However, very few truly understand the level of hard work and dedication required to make that phrase a reality. From youth organizations to global efforts, growing the game requires a clear and deliberate plan, often taking ventures into unknown territory. If lacrosse stuck with only what was “comfortable,” the sport would never break out of its shell.
One clear example of lacrosse embracing unknown territory was the creation of the Premier Lacrosse League. When players grew frustrated with the state of the MLL, Paul Rabil and many others took enormous risks to start a new league that they believed would be better for the sport. Similarly, Athletes Unlimited brought the professional stage to women’s lacrosse, providing an unprecedented platform for women to continue playing the game they love on a larger scale after college. Neither of these ventures was guaranteed success, but they showed a genuine commitment to the game’s growth—something that aligns perfectly with the inclusion of a women’s bracket in the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships.
There’s always been a disconnect between men’s and women’s lacrosse, and it’s disheartening to see how divided the two can be. Many fans will tell you the sports are entirely different due to the equipment and rule disparities. A casual fan could easily watch a men’s lacrosse game, then switch to a women’s game, and be left puzzled by all the differences. Over time, as the rules in the women’s game became tighter and more restrictive, many players expressed interest in just putting on pads and playing a more physical style, one similar to the men’s game. Women’s box lacrosse provides that opportunity while preserving the integrity of the women’s game.
Box lacrosse shares a lot in common with hockey, and much like hockey, the playing field should be the same for men and women. It’s been amazing to see some of the best women’s lacrosse players in the world translate their skill sets into the box lacrosse environment. I’m sure if you asked them, many would say they would have loved to play box lacrosse growing up, but that opportunity simply wasn’t available to them. The inclusion of women’s box lacrosse in the World Championships is the first step toward opening more doors for future generations. As lacrosse continues to grow on a global scale, the inevitable goal is to see more opportunities for women to play box lacrosse at all levels.
Paving the way for the sport to grow is how it will truly thrive for years to come. It took a lot of work for World Lacrosse to add a women’s bracket to this year’s championship, but that hard work should not go unnoticed. The hope is that many other organizations will see the value in adding women’s box lacrosse to their programs and development curriculums. Women’s box lacrosse is an exciting and necessary evolution for the sport, and with more visibility and opportunities, it could very well play a critical role in shaping the future of lacrosse.
