The United States women's team poses for commemorative photos after winning the 2026 World Lacrosse Women's Championship on August 2 at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. (©WORLD LACROSSE)
A sensational display of offensive skills carried the United States to a jaw-dropping 16-4 win over Canada in the 2026 World Lacrosse Women's Championship final on Sunday night, August 2.
At Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Team USA extended its winning streak to 36 matches, and the world's top-ranked squad collected its fifth consecutive world title. That world championship streak began in 2009 with an 8-7 decision over Australia in Prague.
In its latest triumph, 11 US players produced goals. Coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein's team displayed exceptional passing acumen and movement to generate scoring chance after scoring chance.
This was especially true in the second and third quarters, when Team USA outscored Canada 12-2.
Walker-Weinstein was happy about her team's performance throughout the lacrosse tournament.
"We accomplished all our goals that we set out to do at the beginning of this journey," Walker-Weinstein said, according to the USA Lacrosse website. "They played the right way [and] they represented lacrosse the right way."
Tournament MVP Ally Kennedy, a midfielder, ignited the offense with two goals and an assist in another noteworthy effort. A Stony Brook (New York) University alum, Kennedy finished the tournament with 10 goals on 15 shots and six assists in six matches.
US vs Canada: Familiar Foes in World Championship Final
On Sunday, the US and Canada squared off for the fourth straight time in the tournament finale. In 2013, the US triumphed 19-5, followed by a 10-5 win in 2017 and an 11-8 verdict in 2022.
First held in 1982, this was the 12th edition of the World Lacrosse Women's Championship, and Team USA has secured the winner's trophy 10 times. Australia defeated the US in 1986 and 2005 in the title match.
The US finished with 22 shots on goal on Sunday and held Canada to 12.
Canada kept Team USA goalie Shea Dolce busy in the first half, when she recorded seven saves. This included five saves in the first quarter.
Dolce earned Player of the Match accolades.
"She was such a stabilizer," Walker-Weinstein said of Dolce, according to the USA Lacrosse website. "If we don't have those early stops, that's a totally different game."
Attacker Sam Apuzzo, who had a match-high three goals and two assists, gave the US a 1-0 lead at the 9:41 mark of the opening period, and teammate Kenzie Kent, assisted by Apuzzo, doubled the advantage just under two minutes later.
The floodgates opened in the second quarter, with Sydney Scales and Eliza Osburn adding two quick goals to make it 4-0. And near the midway point of the period, Marie McCool tacked on another tally. And so did Madison Taylor.
Kennedy made it 7-0 with 2:29 left until halftime. And after Kennedy won a draw, Izzy Scane zipped a running shot into the net.
Canada capitalized on forcing a US turnover by getting a goal from Erica Evans with no time remaining in the opening half.
Highlights from the 2nd Half
Taking a commanding 8-1 lead into the second half, Team USA maintained its persistent attack-the-net mentality.
Receiving a pinpoint pass from Kennedy, Apuzzo delivered the first goal of the third quarter, unleashing a shot that sailed into the net for a 9-1 advantage at the 13:20 mark.
Moments later, US players Brigid Duffy and Emma Muchnick tallied with a Canadian goal by Aurora Cordingley sandwiched between them. Duffy completed a brilliant sequence, one similar to a basketball fast break, receiving a pass from Emma LoPinto and running close to the goal to fire a shot.
A Kennedy strike stretched the lead to 12-2, and Chloe Humphrey's free-position goal was Team USA's 13th of the night.
Osburn notched her second tally of the finale with 2:26 to play in the third quarter.
Despite the US dynasty's overwhelming lead over Canada, the Canadian fans in the stands continued to chant words of encouragement and cheer for the underdog.
Both teams scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter. In the first minute, Canada's Avery Morton cut it to 14-3. Then Apuzzo pushed it to 15-3 with a shot from close range.
Kassidy Morris' nifty catch-and-shoot play, assisted by Hanna Bodner, gave Team Canada fans one final highlight to cheer at with 7:44 remaining.
Four minutes later, Kent put the finishing touches on the Americans' 16-goal masterclass to account for the final margin.
The Thrill of Victory
When the final seconds elapsed, US players on the sideline raced onto the field to celebrate with their teammates.
Another World Lacrosse Women's Championship, another title for captains Apuzzo, Kent, McCool and Caylee Waters and their teammates.
In Tokyo, McCool spoke about one of the foundational pillars of the team's dynasty.
"The coaches have done such an incredible job instilling what our standards are and building a culture where every single person on this team is selfless," McCool said, according to this report on the championship finale.
Israel Wins Bronze Medal
In Sunday's third-place match, which was held earlier in the day, Israel defeated Haudenosaunee 7-4 to earn its first-ever World Lacrosse Women's Championship medal.
Israel scored three first-quarter goals (Hanna Hilcoff, Sam Fisher and Zoe Martin). Co-head coaches Kate Goldstein and Sophie Bass' squad then tacked on three more goals in the second quarter, with Jordyn Lipkin, Fisher, and Jackie Stoller scoring in succession.
Paisley Cook had Haudenosaunee's lone goal of the opening half, cutting the lead to 4-1 at the 6:07 mark.
Stoller's goal, with 57 seconds to play before halftime made it 6-1.
In the third quarter, Cook notched her second goal of the match, with Avery Doran picking up the assist to cut it to 6-2.
Fisher answered with another tally, a free-position goal, with just under 2 minutes left in the quarter, giving Israel a 7-2 edge.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals scored twice in a 26-second span (Doran and Sierra Cockerille) to pull within 7-4 with 9:45 remaining.
This was Israel's fourth appearance in the world championship. In 2013, it placed eighth, followed by back-to-back sixth-place finishes in 2017 and '22.
Haudenosaunee, making its fifth appearance, had its previous best result in 2013, when it placed seventh.
World Lacrosse Championship Notes
The all-tournament team was announced on Sunday night.
Goalie: Shea Dolce (US)
Defenders: Brooklyn Walker-Welch (Canada), Sydney Scales (US), Racheli Levy-Smith (Israel)
Midfielders: Erica Evans (Canada), Ally Kennedy (US), Marie McCool (US)
Attackers: Jordyn Lipkin (Israel), Chloe Humphrey (US), Aurora Cordingley (Canada)
Top-10 finishers:
- United States
- Canada
- Israel
- Haudenosaunee
- England
- Australia
- Japan
- Puerto Rico
- Argentina
- Philippines
Germany (0-5) was the only team to finish with a winless record in the 16-nation tournament.
Top scorers:
- Israel's Jordyn Lipkin (19 goals)
- Canada's Kassidy Morris (18)
- USA's Madison Taylor and Canada's Aurora Cordingley (16)
- Haudenosaunee's Avery Doran (15)
Japan's Kokoro Nakazawa tied for sixth with 13 goals.
Two players finished with 10 or more assists: Australia's Georgia Latch (11) and USA's Chloe Humphrey (10).
A Message of Gratitude
After the championship match, World Lacrosse President Bob DeMarco addressed the crowd and the global lacrosse community. He thanked the players, coaches, fans, sponsors and other stakeholders for making the 2026 tournament a resounding success.
DeMarco praised the exemplary work of the Japan Lacrosse Association in hosting the event. He also praised the all-around effort, tireless work ethic and enthusiasm of tournament volunteers.
The World Lacrosse leader also spoke about the growth of the sport on a global scale, with the depth of talent on the 16 national squads competing in Tokyo representing that growth.
For example, he said, "the stickwork was absolutely incredible," citing an essential skill in the sport.
A Look Ahead
The 2027 World Lacrosse Men's Championship will be held June 18-27 in Tokyo, with Oi Hockey Stadium and Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground hosting matches again.
RELATED:
- Lacrosse: US and Canada Advance to Women's World Championship Final
- ODDS and EVENS | Lacrosse Standout Negai Nakazawa Shows Talent at the World Championship
- SPORTS SHORTS | World Lacrosse Women's Championship Reaches Quarterfinal Round
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
