BEL AIR, Md. — Over Memorial Day weekend, girls from all over the United States came to Maryland to compete in the annual USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament. The National Tournament has been held by USA Lacrosse and its predecessors since 1933 and will be celebrating its 90th anniversary next year.
This year, over fifty teams came together to represent their regions and play in front of college coaches.
Each team was split into one of seven divisions and participated in the pool play rounds on Saturday. Then, teams were ranked based on their record and competed for the championship the next day.
Nation United, a program that represents diversity in lacrosse, also was invited to place two teams in the tournament over the weekend. Nichelle Desbordes, a 2024 high school graduate who goes to Glenelg Country School, participated on the Nation United 2 team as a midfielder.
“It’s a really great opportunity because I’m usually one of the only Black girls on the team,” Desbordes said. “Being on a team with predominantly people of color is just so much better and so much fun.”
In its division, Nation United 2 had a great run, beginning with a competitive 12-11 victory over Pittsburgh. Nation United 2 won all four of its pool play games and secured the championship on Sunday with a win over Texas 2.
Beyond the games, this summer is huge for Desbordes and the rest of the class of 2024 because college lacrosse coaches can start contacting them beginning on September 1.
“This summer is really big for recruiting, so I’m excited to have this be the first tournament,” Desbordes said.
Nearly 100 colleges were signed up to recruit during this year’s National Tournament and as players played, there were coaches taking notes on the sidelines. As they head into the summer, many of the 2024s are anxious thinking about college coaches watching them, yet happy for the season to start.
Goalkeeper Maeve Obrist played on D.C. Metro 1 and her team was very successful, winning two games during pool play before finishing in third place in the top division. Obrist plays at Georgetown Visitation and for Pride Lacrosse during the club season. She summed up the feelings of many of the more than 1,100 players competing in the event, saying, “I’m nervous, but I’m excited to see what’s to come.”
The USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament was a great way to kick off recruiting and shows coaches how these players can work with another team of player they may not be familiar with. There is so much more to come this summer as the class of 2024 begins its journey being recruited.
Josie Pell completed an internship this spring working in the communications department at USA Lacrosse. She’ll begin her freshman year as a member of the women’s lacrosse team at James Madison University this fall.
