15 USA Girls’ Youth National Team Players to Watch at Rivalry Challenge

The U.S. Youth National Teams will get a taste of the USA-Canada lacrosse rivalry with the inaugural Rivalry Challenge at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md., from Sept. 18-21.

This historic event will mark the first time the U.S. Youth National Teams will match up against their counterparts from Lacrosse Canada, the governing body for the sport in Canada.

The nine-team competition features the U15, U17 and U19 teams from the USA, Canada East and Canada West in a unique format with all of the teams competing in both traditional field lacrosse and the sixes discipline of the sport designed for the Olympics.

The U.S. rosters are littered with standouts from across the country. Here are 15 players to watch.

Olivia Abbott, M, USA U19 — A standout high school sprinter who didn’t pick up lacrosse until about five years ago, Abbott was a five-star recruit before committing to Stanford. The 5-10 dynamo could be one of the best on the field at the Rivalry Challenge.

Sara Callahan and Bridget Hunt, D, USA U17 — Defense is all about communication, and these two should have no problem doing so. Callahan and Hunt are high school teammates at Milton Academy (Mass.).

Jenna Cratin, M, USA U17 — The co-MVP at the New Balance All-America games, Cratin’s list of accolades is growing by the day. She’s been named an IWLCA Player to Watch, a Clemson Camp MVP and the MVP of the Loyola Indoor Tournament. She’s committed to Maryland.

Riley Driscoll, M, USA U15 — A pure finisher, Driscoll’s physicality, power, and ability to dodge are notable. Her ability to feed with both hands makes her a difficult cover.

Breck Dunn, M, USA U17 — One of a handful of sophomores named a USA Lacrosse High School All-American in 2025. A draw specialist, Dunn uses her athleticism to excel with both hands.

Margaret Dusseau, D, USA U15 — Dusseau’s father, Steve, was an All-American at Georgetown and played on the 2002 U.S. Men’s National Team that won gold in Australia. Dusseau loves to get after 50-50 ground balls and brings intensity to the defensive side of the field.

Payton Ioannou, D, USA U15 — Listed on the U.S. roster as a defender, Ioannou is a midfielder and attacker for St. Anthony’s (N.Y.). Her high school head coach, Darcy Messina, will also coach the U15 squad at the Rivalry Challenge. Look for Ioannou’s athleticism to take centerstage.

Sammi Laake, D, USA 15 — The Laake family has become synonymous with the National Team Development Program. Laake’s older brother, Peter, and older sister, Kit, are both NTDP alumni and are both now at Maryland.

Lucia Nash-Lagares, M, USA U19 — Nash-Lagares played for Puerto Rico at the Pan-American Women’s Lacrosse Championship this summer (6G, 3A) and will play for them at the Atlas Cup from Sept. 26-28. But before then, she’ll suit up for the U.S. at the Rivalry Challenge.

Molly Spellman, G, USA U15 — A goalie at Darien (Conn.), Spellman joins the NTDP pipeline in the footsteps of another all-time Darien great between the pipes in Shea Dolce, who also came through the program.

Ella Upchurch, M, USA U19 — A Clemson commit, Upchurch can take the draw, score on the attack or play both sides out of the midfield. At 5-9, she has great length and athleticism.

Payton Van Zile, D, USA U17 — Van Zile’s mother, Kelly McCardell Van Zile. played at Notre Dame, was a co-captain for 1999 U.S. U19 team and was the head coach at Monmouth. Van Zile is committed to Navy.

Kylie Waters, A, USA U19 — Another Clemson commit, Waters is a shifty 5-4 attacker who focused on conditioning this summer to elevate her game.

Kelsey Young, M, USA U17 — Both of Young’s parents were Division I lacrosse players. Her mother, Julie Shaner Young, was a Tewaaraton Award finalist at Princeton and was the head coach at Villanova until 2021. Her father, Mike, was a captain at UMass.