The World Lacrosse Box Championships is a quadrennial international tournament organized by World Lacrosse, the global governing body for the sport, featuring elite men's and women's national teams competing in box lacrosse, an indoor variant of the game played on a rink with six players per side.^[1][2] Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse, originated in Canada during the 1920s and 1930s as an adaptation of traditional field lacrosse for enclosed arenas, emphasizing high-intensity play with rapid transitions, aggressive physical contact, and a smaller playing surface bounded by boards and glass similar to an ice hockey rink.^[2] The game uses short-handled sticks with deeper mesh pockets, a small rubber ball, and protective equipment tailored for close-quarters action, including upper body padding and large shin guards for goalkeepers, distinguishing it from the outdoor field version through its faster pace and increased physicality.^[2] The men's championship debuted in 2003 in Hamilton and Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been held every four years since, with Canada maintaining an undefeated record of 35 wins across six editions, securing gold each time while the Haudenosaunee Nationals (representing the Iroquois Confederacy) earned silver medals in the first five editions (2003–2019) and bronze in 2024. In the 2024 men's final, Canada defeated the United States 13–7.^[1][3] The 2024 event, hosted in Utica, New York, from September 20 to 29, marked the first inclusion of a women's division with 10 teams, where the United States claimed gold with a 10-7 victory over Canada in the final, drawing 33,978 spectators over 131 games involving 38 teams total (28 men's and 10 women's).^[4][5] The next edition is scheduled for 2028 in Canada, with location to be determined, continuing World Lacrosse's commitment to six major quadrennial championships across field, under-20, and box disciplines for both genders.^[6]

Overview

The World Lacrosse Box Championships is the premier international competition for national teams in box lacrosse, an indoor variant of the sport characterized by its fast-paced, physical play on a smaller enclosed rink surrounded by boards and glass.^[2] Unlike field lacrosse, which is played outdoors on a larger surface with 10 players per side and longer sticks, box lacrosse features six players per team using shorter-handled sticks, enabling rapid transitions, tighter defensive schemes, and increased body contact in a confined space.^[2] Governed by World Lacrosse, the championships have been held quadrennially since the inaugural men's event in 2003, evolving from the earlier World Indoor Lacrosse Championship to its current name to better reflect the discipline.^[1] Six men's editions have been completed through 2024, with Canada securing gold in every tournament and remaining undefeated across 35 matches.^[1][4] The 2024 edition marked the debut of a women's competition with 10 teams, won by the United States in a 10-7 victory over Canada.^[5] These championships play a vital role in advancing the global development of box lacrosse, expanding participation from six men's teams in 2003 to 28 nations in the 2024 men's division and 10 in the women's, while fostering international competition and cultural exchange within the sport.^[1]

History

Origins

The World Indoor Lacrosse Championship (WILC), now known as the World Lacrosse Box Championships, was established in 2003 by the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL), the sport's international governing body at the time (now World Lacrosse). The creation of the event addressed the absence of a dedicated global competition for box lacrosse, aiming to mirror the structure and prestige of the existing FIL World Lacrosse Championship for field lacrosse while promoting the indoor variant internationally. This initiative stemmed from the FIL's broader efforts to unify and expand lacrosse disciplines beyond field play.^[7] The inaugural tournament was hosted in Ontario, Canada, from May 15 to 24, 2003, across venues in Hamilton, Kitchener, Mississauga, and Oshawa. Six nations competed: Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Iroquois Nationals, Scotland, and the United States. Canada, leveraging its home advantage and deep talent pool, dominated the round-robin and playoff stages, ultimately defeating the Iroquois Nationals 21–4 in the gold medal final to secure the first championship title. The United States earned bronze with a 15–9 victory over Scotland in the third-place game.^[8][7][9] The WILC drew inspiration from longstanding North American box lacrosse traditions, particularly in Canada, where the sport evolved in the early 20th century as an arena adaptation of field lacrosse to suit indoor facilities during winter months. Key influences included Canada's National Lacrosse League (NLL), the premier professional box league founded in 1987, and the Mann Cup, the national senior men's championship contested annually since 1901, which exemplified the fast-paced, physical style of play central to the international event. Initially limited to men's teams, the tournament reflected box lacrosse's historical roots as a male-centric discipline in regions like Ontario and British Columbia.^[10][2] Early challenges for the WILC included constrained global participation, as box lacrosse remained predominantly a North American pursuit with strongholds in Canada and the United States, while interest elsewhere was nascent and often tied to field lacrosse communities. The modest field of six teams highlighted these regional disparities, with non-North American entrants like Australia, Scotland, and the Czech Republic representing pioneering efforts to adapt the indoor format. Despite this, the event laid foundational groundwork for future growth by showcasing box lacrosse's unique elements, such as smaller rinks, protective netting, and emphasis on goaltending.^[7][11]

Expansion and Modern Era

The World Lacrosse Box Championships experienced significant growth in participation following its inaugural event, expanding from 6 teams in 2003 to 8 teams in both 2007 and 2011, 13 teams in 2015, 20 teams in 2019, and a record 28 teams in the men's division for 2024.^[1] This expansion reflected increasing global interest in box lacrosse, with greater inclusion of nations from Europe—such as the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland—and Asia, including debutants like Hong Kong and Japan in recent editions, broadening the competition beyond its North American roots.^[1][7] In 2019, the event was renamed from the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship (WILC) to the World Lacrosse Box Championships to better align with the sport's identity and the governing body's rebranding efforts.^[1] This coincided with the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) rebranding to World Lacrosse in the same year, following its 2008 merger of men's and women's bodies, which standardized event governance and promoted unified international development.^[12] The addition of a women's division was announced in May 2023, debuting in 2024 with 10 teams, marking a key step in gender equity within the championships.^[13] The 2024 championships, held from September 20 to 29 in Utica, New York, USA, represented the largest edition to date as the first to include both men's and women's divisions, featuring 38 teams total across men's and women's divisions.^[14] It also expanded global accessibility through comprehensive broadcasts on ESPN platforms—covering 26 games, including gold-medal finals on ESPN2—and World Lacrosse TV for international viewers, enhancing the event's worldwide reach.^[15] Throughout this modern era, Canada maintained its dominance in the men's competition, securing gold in every edition.^[1]

Format

Rules and Equipment

Box lacrosse in the World Lacrosse Box Championships is played on an enclosed rink measuring 200 feet in length by 85 feet in width, surrounded by dasher boards approximately 4 feet high and topped with protective glass or netting.^[16] The playing surface is typically artificial turf or concrete, divided into three zones—defensive, neutral, and attacking—by restraining lines, with goals positioned 12 feet from the end boards.^[17] Each goal measures 4 feet high by 4 feet 9 inches wide, enclosed within a 9-foot-3-inch radius crease that goalkeepers and offensive players cannot enter except under specific rules.^[17] Teams field six players each, including one goaltender, for a fast-paced game consisting of four 15-minute stop-time quarters.^[17] A 30-second shot clock is enforced to maintain offensive pace.^[17] Physical play is emphasized through legal body checking—limited to the area above the waist and below the shoulders—and stick checks, but infractions such as slashing, spearing, or checking from behind result in penalties ranging from minor (2 minutes) to major (5 minutes) or match misconduct.^[17] The smaller rink compared to field lacrosse promotes rapid transitions and fast breaks, with substitutions occurring on the fly through designated boxes.^[2] Protective equipment is mandatory for all players, including helmets with facemasks, mouthguards, gloves, shoulder pads, and rib pads to safeguard against the physical nature of the sport; arm guards, elbow pads, and athletic supporters are recommended.^[17] Sticks feature shallower mesh pockets and shorter shafts (40 to 42 inches for outfielders, up to 72 inches for goalkeepers) than those in field lacrosse, allowing for quicker handling in close quarters.^[17] Goalkeepers wear additional bulky gear, including chest protectors, throat guards, leg pads, and blockers, with their sticks having wider heads (up to 13 inches) for better ball control.^[17] All equipment must meet World Lacrosse safety standards to prevent injury.^[17] In the championships, games adhere to World Lacrosse's official box lacrosse rules, officiated by certified international referees.^[18] Pool play matches tied at the end of regulation are resolved via tiebreakers—such as head-to-head results, goal differential (capped at 12 for women's games), and fewest goals against—without overtime to maintain scheduling efficiency.^[19] Playoff and medal games use sudden-death overtime periods of 15 minutes each until a goal decides the winner, ensuring a decisive outcome.^[17]

Tournament Structure

The World Lacrosse Box Championships are open to member nations of World Lacrosse, the sport's international governing body, with participation determined through a qualification process that includes automatic bids for top-ranked programs such as Canada and the United States based on prior championship results and world rankings.^[19] Additional teams qualify via continental federation events, ensuring representation from each federation with a maximum of 30 nations overall, though the 2024 edition featured 28 men's teams and 10 women's teams selected primarily from rankings, including those derived from previous field lacrosse events for the inaugural women's draw.^[19][20] The host nation receives an automatic spot within the pre-qualified group.^[19] The tournament follows a preliminary round-robin format divided into pools, with the 2024 men's event using seven pools of four teams each, seeded by World Lacrosse rankings to balance competition and geography, while the women's event consisted of two pools of five teams.^[20][21] Pool winners and top performers advance to playoffs, where the top eight men's teams proceed directly to quarterfinals, teams ranked 9-16 compete in a play-in round for additional playoff spots (with winners advancing and losers entering placement games for ranks 13-28), and lower-seeded teams play placement matches to determine final standings.^[22][23] This structure ensures all teams play multiple games while culminating in medal matches, with tiebreakers based on win records, goal differentials, and goals against as outlined in World Lacrosse's competition manual.^[19] Events typically span 10-12 days, accommodating over 100 games across multiple venues provided by the host nation, as seen in the 2024 championships held from September 20-29 in Utica, New York, at the Utica University Nexus Center and additional sites, with men's and women's draws running in parallel to maximize efficiency and fan access.^[19][4] Teams are limited to one game per day with at least 14 hours of rest between matches and a mandatory rest day, supporting player welfare during the intensive schedule.^[19] The men's champions receive the Cockerton Cup, named after legendary player Stan Cockerton, while both men's and women's events conclude with the selection of All-World teams—typically six players each—honoring outstanding performers, alongside individual awards for most valuable player (MVP) and top scorer.^[19][24] These honors, presented at the closing ceremony, recognize excellence across the tournament and are determined by World Lacrosse officials based on statistical and observational criteria.^[19] Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to the top three teams in each division.^[19]

Men's Championships

Champions

The World Lacrosse Men's Box Championships have been held quadrennially since the inaugural event in 2003, with Canada winning gold in every edition and maintaining an undefeated record of 35 wins across 93 games as of the 2024 tournament.^[1][3]

• 2003 (Hamilton and Oshawa, Canada): Canada defeated Haudenosaunee 21–4 in the final.^[1]
• 2007 (Halifax, Canada): Canada defeated Haudenosaunee 15–14 (overtime) in the final.^[1]
• 2011 (Prague, Czech Republic): Canada defeated Haudenosaunee 13–6 in the final.^[1]
• 2015 (Onondaga Nation Territory, USA): Canada defeated Haudenosaunee 12–8 in the final.^[1]
• 2019 (Langley, Canada): Canada defeated Haudenosaunee 19–12 in the final.^[1]
• 2024 (Utica, New York, USA): Canada defeated United States 13–7 in the final, with Haudenosaunee earning bronze.^[1][3]

These victories underscore Canada's dominance in the discipline, originating from its roots in Canadian lacrosse culture.

Medal Table

Across the six editions of the Men's World Lacrosse Box Championships (2003–2024), only three nations have medaled, reflecting the event's North American focus while participation has grown globally. Canada holds all golds, with Haudenosaunee securing five silvers and one bronze, and the United States earning one silver and five bronzes.^[1] Future tournaments are expected to broaden medal distribution as more nations qualify for podium contention.^[1]

Performance by Nation

The Men's World Lacrosse Box Championships have expanded significantly since 2003, growing from 6 participating teams to 28 in 2024, drawing nations from North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond to compete in the fast-paced indoor format.^[1][4] Canada has dominated every edition, finishing undefeated with a 35–0 record and outscoring opponents by an average margin exceeding 10 goals per game. The Haudenosaunee Nationals, representing the Iroquois Confederacy, have been consistent runners-up in five of six tournaments, showcasing their cultural ties to lacrosse's origins while earning bronze in 2024 after a semifinal loss to the United States. The United States has secured bronze in five straight editions before claiming silver in 2024 with a strong semifinal win over Haudenosaunee, signaling rising competitiveness.^[1][3] Emerging nations like Australia (consistent top-10 finishes), Czechia (host in 2011 with a top-8 placement), and Japan have improved over time, contributing to the event's global development. The 2024 tournament highlighted this progress, with 28 teams competing and several close matches, including the United States' path to the final.^[1] This growth positions the championships as a key driver for box lacrosse's international expansion, with plans for more inclusive qualification in future editions.^[4]

Women's Championships

Champions

The inaugural World Lacrosse Women's Box Championship culminated in a gold medal victory for the United States, who defeated Canada 10–7 in a closely contested final on September 29, 2024, at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.^[5] The match featured a slow defensive start with just one goal in the first 16 minutes, followed by an intense third quarter that saw the score tied, before the United States mounted a decisive comeback in the fourth quarter to secure the win.^[5] This triumph represented the first gold medal awarded in women's box lacrosse at the international level, highlighting the discipline's rapid emergence as a competitive global format following its introduction alongside the men's event in 2024.^[14]

Medal Table

The inaugural Women's World Box Lacrosse Championships in 2024 marked the first medal competition in the discipline, with only three nations achieving podium finishes out of ten participating teams.^[14][5] The limited medal distribution reflects the event's status as the first edition, with future quadrennial tournaments expected to expand the all-time tally as more nations compete and medal opportunities grow.^[1]

Performance by Nation

The 2024 World Lacrosse Women's Box Championships marked the inaugural edition of the event, featuring 10 teams selected based on World Lacrosse's global rankings for the discipline.^[1][25] As the first competition, all participating nations made their debut in the women's box format, highlighting a mix of established North American powerhouses and emerging programs from Europe, Asia, and Oceania.^[14] This debut underscored the sport's expanding international footprint, with teams like Hong Kong, China, and Finland representing growing interest outside traditional lacrosse regions.^[4] The United States dominated the tournament, finishing undefeated with a 7–0 record to claim gold, defeating Canada 10–7 in the final.^[5] Canada secured silver with a 6–1 record, while the Haudenosaunee nation earned bronze via a 5–2 mark after a 21–4 semifinal victory over Australia.^[5] Australia placed fourth at 4–3, followed by England (4–4) in fifth after edging Germany (3–4) 14–13 in the placement game.^[26] The Netherlands (3–5) took seventh by beating Ireland (2–5) 11–10, Hong Kong, China (1–5) finished ninth over Finland (0–6), and Germany rounded out sixth.^[26] These results reflect the medal positions outlined in the tournament's summary.^[14] The tournament demonstrated high competitiveness, with several matches decided by narrow margins, such as the 14–13 fifth-place contest between England and Germany.^[26] The United States' victory over the traditionally dominant Canada signaled a broadening talent pool in women's box lacrosse, particularly as non-North American teams like England and the Netherlands showed resilience in crossover play.^[4] This inaugural event sets the stage for future expansions, with World Lacrosse indicating plans to include more nations in subsequent championships to further global development.^[1]

Tournaments

2003 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship

The 2003 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship was the inaugural men's tournament organized by the Federation of International Lacrosse (now World Lacrosse), marking the first international competition in the box lacrosse format. Hosted across four venues in Ontario, Canada—Hamilton, Kitchener, Mississauga, and Oshawa—the event took place from May 15 to 24. Six nations participated: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Iroquois Nation, Scotland, and the United States. The tournament featured a single round-robin pool where each team played the others once, followed by single-elimination playoffs for the top four teams, with placement games for the lower ranks.^[7][11][8] In pool play, Canada dominated with a perfect 5–0 record, outscoring opponents by a wide margin, including a 16–5 victory over the United States. The Iroquois Nation secured second place at 4–1, highlighted by a 21–14 win against the U.S. Scotland finished third at 3–2, notably pulling off an upset with a 15–12 victory over the United States. The U.S. team ended at 2–3, earning wins over Australia and the Czech Republic but suffering losses to the top three seeds. Australia placed fifth at 1–4, while the Czech Republic went 0–5. The full pool standings are summarized below: ^[11][8] The playoffs began with a fifth-place game where Australia defeated the Czech Republic 21–10. In the semifinals, top-seeded Canada routed the fourth-seeded U.S. 17–9, while the Iroquois Nation overwhelmed Scotland 22–8. The bronze medal game saw the U.S. rebound with a 15–9 win over Scotland, led by four goals from Kevin Finneran and strong goaltending from Dwight Maetche. In the final, Canada claimed gold with a commanding 21–4 victory over the Iroquois Nation, powered by seven goals and three assists from John Grant Jr. The tournament drew a total attendance of approximately 7,132 spectators across 20 games.^[9][8][27] As the debut international box lacrosse event, the 2003 championship showcased Canada's early supremacy, extending their unbeaten streak in world indoor play and affirming their status as the sport's powerhouse. The participation of emerging European nations like Scotland and the Czech Republic helped spark global interest, laying the foundation for the tournament's expansion in subsequent editions.^[7][28]

2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship

The 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, the second edition of the men's tournament, was held from May 14 to 20 at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Organized by the International Lacrosse Federation (now World Lacrosse), the event featured eight teams divided into two pools of four, with the top two from each advancing to the semifinals and the bottom two playing for lower placements.^[29] This marked an increase from the six teams in the 2003 inaugural tournament, reflecting growing global interest in box lacrosse, with debuts by England and Ireland alongside returning participants Canada, United States, Iroquois Nationals, Australia, Scotland, and the Czech Republic.^[29] In Pool A, Canada dominated with three wins, including a 18–5 victory over the United States and a 24–4 rout of Australia, finishing undefeated to top the group; the United States secured second place with wins over Australia (19–9) and Ireland (20–0).^[29] Pool B was led by the Iroquois Nationals, who posted shutout-level margins in victories such as 27–8 over England and 24–4 against the Czech Republic, while England earned second with close wins over Scotland (15–7) and the Czech Republic (9–7).^[29] The quarterfinals saw the United States defeat Scotland 17–9 and England upset Australia 15–11, setting up semifinals where Canada advanced with a 24–9 win over England and the Iroquois progressed 14–4 against the United States.^[11] In the bronze medal game, the United States claimed third place by beating England 17–10.^[29] The final was a closely contested thriller between Canada and the Iroquois Nationals, with Canada prevailing 15–14 in overtime on a goal by Jeff Zywicki after trailing at halftime.^[7] This outcome secured gold for Canada, silver for the Iroquois Nationals, and bronze for the United States, as detailed in the men's medal table. The tournament highlighted expanding international participation, particularly from Europe, though no European team reached the podium; the Czech Republic finished seventh after a 22–5 win over Ireland in the 7th/8th place game.^[29]

2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship

The 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship was the third edition of the tournament and the first to be held outside North America. Hosted in Prague, Czech Republic, from May 21 to 28 at the O2 Universal Arena, the event featured eight teams divided into two pools of four, followed by a playoff bracket including quarterfinals, semifinals, placement games, and the championship final.^[30][31] The participating nations were Canada, the United States, Iroquois Nationals, Czech Republic, England, Australia, Ireland, and Slovakia, with the latter making its debut in the competition.^[32][33] In Pool A, Canada finished undefeated with wins over Slovakia (27-1), England (28-5), and Australia (26-2), topping the group with 81 goals scored and only 14 conceded.^[34] Pool B was led by the Iroquois Nationals, who went undefeated with victories over Ireland (23-3), the host Czech Republic (25-5), and the United States (11-10).^[34] The United States advanced as the second-place team from Pool B with wins over Ireland (22-1) and the Czech Republic (14-5). The Czech Republic finished third in Pool B with a victory over Ireland (18-5).^[34] The playoffs featured quarterfinal matchups of second-place from one pool against third-place from the other: the United States defeated Australia 28-2, while the Czech Republic upset England 12-7. In the semifinals, top-seeded Canada defeated the United States 15-10, while the Iroquois Nationals defeated the Czech Republic 19-6.^[34] In the bronze medal game, the United States claimed third place with a 16-7 victory over the host Czech Republic.^[35] Canada capped their dominant run in the final, defeating the Iroquois Nationals 13-6 behind strong goaltending from Matt Vinc, who earned game MVP honors with 37 saves.^[31][36] Key highlights included the debut of Slovakia, who finished seventh after a 10-7 upset win over Ireland in the placement game, showcasing emerging European talent despite heavy losses in pool play.^[32] Canadian forward Colin Doyle led the tournament in scoring with 20 points, while the event drew strong local support as the first global box lacrosse competition in Europe.^[36] The tournament significantly boosted lacrosse development across the continent, with six teams from outside North America participating and the host Czech Republic achieving a respectable fourth-place finish.^[35]

2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship

The 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, the fourth edition of the men's tournament organized by the Federation of International Lacrosse (now World Lacrosse), was hosted by the Onondaga Nation on its territory near Syracuse, New York, United States, from September 18 to 27. This marked the first time the event was held in the United States and the first hosting by an indigenous nation, highlighting lacrosse's origins as the "Creator's Game" among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) peoples. The tournament featured 13 teams divided into three pools—Blue (the top five seeded nations), Red, and Green—with pool play determining advancement to quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games played across venues including Onondaga Nation Arena, War Memorial at Oncenter, and Syracuse University's Carrier Dome.^[7][37][38] Canada claimed its fourth consecutive gold medal, finishing the tournament undefeated with a dominant 12–8 victory over the host Iroquois Nationals in the final at the Carrier Dome. The Iroquois advanced to the championship match after a 17–10 semifinal win over the United States, securing silver on their home territory and showcasing strong indigenous participation with players like brothers Lyle and Miles Thompson leading the offense. In the bronze medal game, the United States defeated Israel 15–4, after Israel had upset higher-seeded teams earlier in the playoffs. The event introduced six new participating nations—Finland, Germany, Israel, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey—expanding the global reach of box lacrosse beyond its traditional North American base.^[39][40][7] Key highlights included the cultural significance of the hosting, with opening ceremonies honoring Haudenosaunee traditions through performances and light shows, drawing attention to lacrosse's indigenous heritage. Lyle Thompson, a standout for the Iroquois and recent Tewaaraton Award winner, delivered a breakout performance in the tournament, contributing significantly to his team's run to the final alongside his brother Miles, who recorded eight points in a quarterfinal matchup. The championship game set a new attendance record for the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship with 10,421 fans, underscoring growing interest in the sport.^[38][41][42]

2019 World Lacrosse Box Championships

The 2019 World Lacrosse Box Championships, held as the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, marked the fifth edition of the premier men's international box lacrosse competition organized by World Lacrosse. Hosted at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, from September 19 to 28, the tournament featured a record 20 participating nations, reflecting the sport's growing global reach.^[43] Teams were divided into four pools of five, with the top two from each advancing to quarterfinals in the championship bracket for final standings 1–8, while the remaining squads competed in placement games for positions 9–20.^[43] Canada dominated the event, going undefeated in seven games and outscoring opponents by an average margin of over 10 goals per contest to secure their fifth straight title. In the gold medal final, the host nation defeated the Haudenosaunee 19–12 to claim the Cockerton Cup, with Dane Dobbie leading Canada with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in the championship game.^[44] The United States earned bronze with an 11–8 victory over England in the third-place game, extending their streak of five consecutive podium finishes.^[45] A semifinal highlight saw the Haudenosaunee rally from a third-quarter deficit to edge the United States 9–7, advancing to their second straight final.^[46] The expanded field brought greater diversity, with debutants Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Mexico, and the Netherlands joining established programs like Sweden in the Orange Pool.^[43] Cody Jamieson of the Haudenosaunee was named tournament MVP after a standout performance, including 28 points across four pool games.^[44] In 2020, World Lacrosse rebranded the event as the World Lacrosse Box Championships to emphasize its box lacrosse roots.^[47]

2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships

The 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships marked the sixth edition of the men's competition and the inaugural women's event, held from September 20 to 29 in Utica, New York, United States.^[14] The tournament featured 28 men's teams divided into seven pools of four teams each, alongside 10 women's teams split into two pools of five, culminating in parallel playoff brackets for both divisions.^[14] All matches were streamed globally, marking the first time the championships included both genders in a co-ed format.^[4] In the men's division, Canada maintained its dominance with an undefeated 7–0 record, defeating the United States 13–7 in the gold medal game to secure their sixth straight world title.^[3] The Haudenosaunee claimed bronze with a 14–5 win over England in the third-place match.^[48] Jeff Teat of Canada was named the most valuable player for the men's tournament.^[24] The women's competition saw the United States go undefeated through pool play and the playoffs, rallying to beat Canada 10–7 in the final for their first-ever gold medal.^[5] The Haudenosaunee earned bronze with a decisive 21–4 victory against Australia.^[49] Ally Kennedy of the United States was selected as the women's MVP.^[24] The championships set a record with 131 games played across both divisions and attracted a total attendance of 33,978 spectators at venues including the Utica University Nexus Center.^[4]