2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships Conclude After 10 days in Utica, New York

From Worldlacrosse.sport

The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships concluded on Sunday after 131 games in 10 days of action in Utica, New York, with the United States taking home the gold medal in the first-ever women’s box championship and Canada securing the gold medal in the men’s championship. A total of 33,978 fans attended the championships.

In the historic first-ever women’s box championship, the United States surged past Canada for a 10-7 win in the gold medal match on Sunday afternoon at the Adirondack Bank Center to claim the title in an instant classic after trailing by two goals in the fourth quarter.

In the men’s box championship, Canada continued its dynastic reign with a 13-7 win over the United States for its sixth gold medal in the event, a result that continued Canada’s 35-match unbeaten streak dating back to 2003.

World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said:”The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships have been a tremendous success, not only in terms of the incredible talent, passion and sportsmanship displayed by the athletes, but also because of the outstanding support and hospitality we’ve experienced here in Utica and Oneida County.”

“The Utica University Nexus Center and Adirondack Bank Center provided world-class facilities that enhanced the experience for everyone involved – players, coaches, officials, and fans alike. We are grateful to the entire community for their warmth and enthusiasm, which helped make this championship truly special. This event has set a new benchmark for excellence in box lacrosse, and we are excited about the future of the sport.”

Twenty-six games of the dual championships were broadcast on ESPN platforms in the United States, marking the first time the network carried a box championship. The rest of the championships were streamed on World Lacrosse’s platform, WL TV, with unprecedented global access for the sport’s community, with over 1.3 million minutes streamed.

Additionally, heading into the final day of the championship, World Lacrosse had already amassed more than 30 million impressions, 20 million video views and 1 million engagements. as well as 7.5 percent audience growth as the organization secured the most successful event on its digital channels in history.

In the women’s box championship, Canada took silver and the Haudenosaunee took bronze with two rosters full of players who grew up playing box lacrosse.

In the men’s box championship, the United States secured silver for the first time in its history while the Haudenosaunee took bronze, and the two teams treated the sport of lacrosse to a scintillating and breathless semifinal on Friday decided by one goal.

The women’s box championship featured 10 teams making their debut from around the world, with Australia and England rounding out the top five.

Eleven teams participated in the men’s box championship for the first time, highlighted by Japan (eighth place), Italy (13^th place), the U.S. Virgin Islands (14^th place) and China (15^th place). England, Israel, Czechia, Finland and Germany, long-time powerhouses of men’s box lacrosse, all held off a stronger field than ever to finish in the top 10.

Final Placement

The United States had three players land on the World Team in the women’s box championship, with three players also on the team from Canada. On the men’s world team, three Canadians earned a spot, followed by one American and one player from the Haudenosaunee.

Canada’s Jeff Teat was named the Most Valuable Player of the men’s box championship while Ally Kennedy of the United States took home the Most Valuable Player honor in the women’s box championship.