Forever Linked: U.S. Women's Sixes National Team Paves Way With Gold

CHENGDU, China — The members of the U.S. Women’s Sixes National Team had just filed into Meeting Room 3 in Apartment 7 of The World Games Village when Lindsay Munday, situated at the front of the room, tasked her team with some homework.

She spoke about the honor of representing the United States, both for respecting the past teams that paved the way and the future national teams that are comprised of women watching them play in the present.

“It’s really important to define that,” she said, requesting her team come up with something tangible. “You can define that however you want, if it’s a phrase or a motto, but it’s something that we have to remember and go back to. What does this team want to be remembered by?”

Among the group that made the trip to Chengdu to compete for a gold medal and avenge the loss to Canada in The World Games 2022 were four Tewaaraton Award winners, two first-team All-American goalies and a star-studded midfield filled with national champions. But they were tasked with developing a form of lacrosse that relied on chemistry and connectivity and a moniker that embodied it.

After a few days of dining hall conversations, brainstorming and coming up with names that didn’t quite fit, Sam Apuzzo, one of two team captains alongside Marie McCool, presented the phrase that served as a rallying cry as the U.S. chased revenge and history.

“We’ve slept on it, but because we’ve talked about connectivity, we came up with ‘Link Up’ and ‘Link Us,’” Apuzzo said.

Less than 24 hours later, she stood arm-in-arm with her 11 teammates as they came together one last time. The buzzer had sounded, and the celebration had begun for the U.S., which dominated rival Canada en route to a 16-8 victory in The World Games final.

The U.S. assisted 14 of their 16 goals, made 20 saves and held Canada to 24-percent shooting despite not having a single natural defender on the roster. In a matter of five days, the U.S. had found its identity in sixes.

“Way to play a full 32 minutes,” Taylor Moreno shouted into the huddle. “That was unbelievable. I am so grateful to be part of this team. You guys crushed it. That’s what it means to play USA lacrosse.”

The huddle then broke with the phrase created by the team just a day prior.

Link up.

The gold medal victory against Canada was years in the making, starting with when Munday was named head coach. She and her staff, which included former national team stars Michelle Tumolo and Sarah Meehan, set out to create the greatest sixes team of all time.

After a tryout process, she went with a roster that included attackers, offensive midfielders and two goalies. She put her trust in her team to play defense when asked and in her goalies to make the saves that could halt even the hottest of offenses.

All the while, she wanted her team to embrace the excitement.

“Don’t be too cool to celebrate a goal,” Munday said. “It’s awesome to dominate teams and score goals and make every stop. Take everything in and take pride in all of this.”

As the tournament progressed, the players embraced their roles on the defensive end. In Monday’s championship game, the U.S. defense shut down Canada’s offense, and when they got chances, they were often met with the stick of Dolce or Moreno.

“Michelle has been preaching for us to be dogs on defense,” Apuzzo said. “A lot of us are new to defense. We just have to channel that inner midfielder that we all have inside of us. Defense is a different game for so many, so you have to lead with your heart.”

Eventually, the defense gave way to transition opportunities and allowed the U.S. to do what it does best — overwhelm opponents with the most talented offensive players in the world.

McCool led the U.S. in points, scoring twice and adding four assists, cutting through the teeth of the Canadian defense on multiple occasions. She won World Lacrosse’s Most Valuable Player award after finishing with 32 points and 20 goals in the five games.

She walked off the field with a smile on her face, wearing a medal made of gold — a sign of good luck in Chinese culture. McCool’s grandparents used to save gold as a tradition, gifting her a bracelet on her wedding day. This was a lacrosse odyssey for the team co-captain.

“They would be so proud of me,” McCool said of her late grandparents. “They were my biggest fans. I know they’re watching over. The biggest thing I noticed coming here is the work ethic everyone has, and that’s a reflection of the culture here and something I saw in my grandparents.”

Throughout the five games, the U.S. began to draw the interest of the local crowd. With each dominant win, the fan section at Chengdu No. 7 High School Eastern Campus Athletics Field continued to grow. Fans brought signs for players like Charlotte North and Izzy Scane.

After the gold medal ceremony, U.S. staff brought in a piece of cardboard that contained several clothes pins or “clips” — a nod to the viral trend in women’s athletics. The clips came from fans who attended the gold medal game, with some saying “USA” and “Team” — among several other affirmations.

Each member of the roster had taken their clip, leaving just a few left on the board. One of the remaining clips offered a glimpse at what’s ahead for the program and the platform they may own when the time comes.

Olympian.

While lacrosse still needs to wait three more years to make its appearance in the 2028 Olympic Games, the week in Chengdu made the experience feel much closer. The U.S. Women’s Sixes National Team came to China to showcase lacrosse to the world, and they returned with a gold medal and an energy for the future.

“How perfect it is for the Olympics to showcase to the world how fast our sport is?” McCool said. “What’s so special about lacrosse is that every single individual has a unique playing style, and the way that they all come together to make a team is incredible.”