Some of the most popular sports for teenagers are soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball. However, the NCAA recently called lacrosse the fastest-growing college sport in America, marking the beginning of a sizable expansion of men’s and women’s lacrosse across the country.

     The Professional Lacrosse League (PLL) was founded in the spring of 2019. This was only available for men, leading many female players to wonder when their time would come. As 

announced in November 2024, the Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL), will be starting this spring. The professional league will start with 4 teams: the New York Charging, the California Palms, the Maryland Charm, and the Boston Guard. 

     These teams will inspire young players by giving them something to work for. By introducing people to the sport at a young age, they are more likely to continue playing and become the next professionals, creating a larger community of players. 

     Despite the tides starting to turn for women’s sports, the gender gap in the industry still stands. Northeast High School lacrosse coach Tori McCarl said, “While I hope and pray and would love for the WLL to reach the same amount of popularity as the PLL, part of me has to consider the gender pay discrepancies and the gender biases at large in our country. Maybe this will be a historic example of when a women’s professional league is equally as popular as the men’s. Time will tell!” 

     As the gap becomes smaller, players still have hope for what could be. 

     Inspirational, powerful women give young girls someone to look up to. Watching players such as Charlotte North and Izzy Scane keeps girls interested and provides them with someone to aspire to be like. The platform gives them hope that they can someday be like the professionals, which would foster the growth of more prodigies in the lacrosse world. 

     The inspiration that will surely come from this league will also inspire high school players. Shorecrest’s addition of both boys and girls lacrosse teams this year generates more interest in the sport. Introducing the sport to students could help many of them find or rediscover their passion for it.

     For students who’ve played in the past, the school team allows them to play with their friends and peers. Freshman Maggie Majeski explained how excited she is to play with girls she knows. “It will be a fun environment,” she said.

     And for those at Shorecrest who’ve never heard of lacrosse, the school teams will at least get them to understand what it is, hopefully leading to greater viewing of professional games.

     Overall, the WLL is not only giving female lacrosse players a chance to play at a higher level, but it also gives young girls a model to look up to.