SPARKS, Md. — U.S. men’s national team head coach John Danowski has invited 50 players to participate in a training camp from Sept. 23-25 at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md., in preparation for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. The majority of players invited to the training camp participated in a tryout session last month.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The U.S. women’s Sixes locker room was quiet when coaches Regy Thorpe and Mandee O’Leary addressed the team for the final time at The World Games.

O’Leary thanked her team for their effort and the way they built chemistry over the six-day international event. Thorpe gave credit to the Canadians’ veteran team that won gold, and encouraged the 12 players on the Sixes team to use Saturday night’s defeat as a learning experience.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — With 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter of Friday’s matchup between the U.S. and Great Britain’s Women’s Sixes teams, Ellie Masera was lurking.

The U.S. faced a man-down situation, one of few during The World Games, and the incoming sophomore at Stony Brook found herself guarding Claire Faram when a pass was sent her way. Masera’s instincts kicked in — see ball, get ball.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The looks on the faces of the U.S. women’s Sixes team as they walked off the field were ones of excitement, and a bit of relief. After two days of up-and-down play against Japan and Australia, the U.S. got what it wanted.

As the sun set over PNC Field in Birmingham, Alabama, coaches Mandee O’Leary and Regy Thorpe could focus not just on adjustments from the game that just ended, but look ahead to The World Games semifinals — and what they were getting for dinner at Jim & Nick’s BBQ.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The message was clear inside the U.S. women’s Sixes team huddle on the practice field prior to its matchup with Japan.

As the 12-player roster leaned in to hear a message delivered by the few veterans, Haley Hicklen offered a simple suggestion.

“Let’s start the way we ended last game,” she said.

The message was met with nods of approval as they headed toward PNC Field for the second game of The World Games — the international competition featuring lacrosse for the second time.

FREDERICA, Del. — If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

That was theme of the 2022 USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals where two of the three champions enjoyed the triumphant feeling after falling in last year’s championship games.

Canada’s offense carried it into the gold medal game of the inaugural men’s Sixes championship at The World Games, but it was its defense that keyed the early momentum in a 23-9 victory over the United States in the championship match.

Canada goalie Brett Dobson made saves on the first three U.S. shots and its defense forced the U.S. into 13 turnovers in the game, including five in the opening quarter.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As the U.S. women’s Sixes team walked off PNC Field at halftime of their The World Games opener against Australia — a half characterized by a few growing pains — Belle Smith pulled Madison Doucette aside.

The U.S. had struggled to find its offense early on and trailed Australia after one quarter. Doucette was locked in, keeping her team in the game, but both could sense the Australian team was tiring,

“‘Hey, I do transition at BC,’” Smith told Doucette. “‘That’s my job. Hit me.’” 

FREDERICA, Del. — When the sun is blazing and you’re tired, sometimes it can be hard to make your dreams seem real. But for the more than 1,500 athletes competing in the USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, all they had to do was look over and see their dream in real time.

On Saturday, Ally Mastroianni won a gold medal with the U.S. women’s national team, capping a whirlwind six weeks in which she also won a national championship with North Carolina and was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award.

A record 90 youth girls’ lacrosse teams are set to compete in the 2022 USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals from July 12-13 at the DE Turf Sports Complex in Frederica, Del. The 90 programs represent club programs from 12 states and will compete in three age groupings — 13U, 14U and 15U.

The event, which dates to 2009, is in its second year of USA Lacrosse partnering with STEPS Lacrosse and Top of the Bay Sports to conduct the activities at the DE Turf Sports Complex. Located just 30 minutes from Delaware’s beaches, DE Turf is the largest all-synthetic sports complex in the Mid Atlantic.