Could They Be Next? Meet the Future of the U.S. Women's National Team

SPARKS, Md. — Sixty-five of the nation's best U19 girls' lacrosse players are at USA Lacrosse this week for the three-day National Team Development Program Combine. Camp concludes Friday. They trained with the best of the best with hopes of seeing their names on the 24-player team that will compete internationally at Rivalry Challenge in Canada and the Brogden Cup at USA Lacrosse.

These players represent the next era of USA Lacrosse as the U.S. Women's National Team gears up for its world championship opener Saturday in Tokyo featuring several stars who came from the same pipeline.

Could they be next?

SERVICE AND STICKS

Three players competing in the combine are committed to service academies — Sonia Leahy and Danielle Caldwell to Navy and Amalia Netto to Army. They face a strenuous schedule once they get to their schools, but they will be used to it after the program they completed at USA Lacrosse.

Three practices a day are not for the weak.

To go to institutions like Army or Navy, you have to be committed. For Caldwell and Netto, they grew up with this goal in the back of their minds.  

“Ever since I knew what college was I wanted to go to Army,” Netto said. “It was something I always looked forward to doing.”

“I’ve wanted to go to Navy ever since I was 6 years old,” Caldwell said, echoing the same sentiment. “My brother went there so I’ve been on the yard ever since I was a little girl. I want to be surrounded by people who have the same goals and aspirations as me.”

The balance between managing lacrosse and military workouts is something both players anticipate coming with a learning curve, but they know that there are groups of girls who have paved the way before them.  

Brigid Duffy, the recent lacrosse and soccer star from Army, was the third overall pick in the Women’s Lacrosse League 2026 draft. She is currently in Tokyo with the U.S. National Team as the first senior field team player from any service academy.

Leahy, Caldwell and Netto could be the next lacrosse players to represent Team USA on and off the field.

NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO

This group of girls are no strangers to the combine life. For many, this isn’t even their first time on Tierney Field.  

For Shea Shoulberg, lacrosse runs in her bloodline. Her father is Charlie Shoulberg, the founder of STEPS Lacrosse and an assistant general manager of the 2006 U.S. Men’s National Team. Her mother, Jessica, is a former Notre Dame lacrosse player and her older sisters play at Moravian and Notre Dame, respectively. Shea is set to compete for the Irish too.  

“I had a stick in my hands coming out of the womb,” Shoulberg joked.

The wisdom passed down through generations in the family was never-ending.  

“Not a lot of people get to wear USA across their chests, so take these moments and cherish them,” Shoulberg said her father reminds her every time she puts on the red, white and blue.

A North Carolina commit, Ryan Rodgers is happy to be back at USA Lacrosse as well. Her past experience has helped her figure out the lay of the land.

“At the second go, vocalizing using each other is something I learned,” she said. “Not everything has to be one-v-ones.”

Rodgers’ main message to the next crop of players is simple: “Learn from everyone.”

CALIFORNIA GIRLS

The U19 girls are quick to say that their favorite part of the combine is the ability to make friends and interact with players who they otherwise would never see or only compete against.  

For Enna Corley, one of five California natives at the combine this year, she is proud to represent the Golden State.  

“Not to say that West Coast lacrosse isn’t growing, because it definitely is, but in places like Maryland and Long Island people grow up playing the game, so you have to compete more when you’re coming from the West Coast,” Corley said. “I have that underdog mentality. I love to show that California can keep up.”

Corley is committed to play at Stanford, so she will be able to showcase her home state on the collegiate stage as well.