The inaugural Women’s Lacrosse League Championship on Aug. 15 at Subaru Park will feature six professional players and one head coach with ties to the Philadelphia and South Jersey lacrosse communities as the Maryland Charm and California Palms compete for the league’s first title. Philadelphia ties include local high school standouts and University of Pennsylvania alumnae. The game begins at 5 p.m., live on ESPN.
For the Maryland Charm, midfielder Olivia Dirks is a native of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Episcopal Academy. Midfielder Cassidy Spilis grew up in Tabernacle, New Jersey, graduated from Seneca High School, and went on to play at Rutgers University. Defender Abby Bosco played collegiately at the University of Pennsylvania and currently resides in New Jersey. Leading the Charm as head coach and general manager is Emily Parros, a Rutledge, Pennsylvania, native and Strath Haven High School graduate.
On the other side, the California Palms roster includes four players with connections to the region. Midfielder Marie McCool is a Moorestown, New Jersey, native and Moorestown High School graduate. Defender Katie Detwiler grew up in Devon, Pennsylvania, graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School, currently lives in Philadelphia and serves as an assistant coach for the Saint Joseph’s University women’s lacrosse team. Palms midfielder Anna Brandt will also return to familiar territory as a University of Pennsylvania alumna.
The championship will bring together some of the world’s top players less than two weeks after Team USA captured gold in Tokyo. McCool and Brandt will be joined on the Palms by fellow gold medalists Ally Mastroianni, Emma LoPinto and Emma Muchnick. The Charm roster features five Team USA gold medalists in Sam Apuzzo, Brigid Duffy, Ally Kennedy, Caylee Waters and Sam Forrest.
“Bringing the inaugural WLL Championship to Subaru Park is an important opportunity to connect the professional game with the communities helping women’s lacrosse grow,” said Broomall native and 1999 Marple Newtown High School graduate Rachael DeCecco, SVP of Lacrosse for the WLL. “We want young athletes to see these players compete, meet the people shaping the sport and leave believing there is a place for them in the future of lacrosse.”
The championship also comes as the WLL works to bring more local families and young athletes into the professional game. The league and the Shapiro Administration recently announced a community access initiative that will provide 2,500 complimentary tickets to nonprofit organizations, youth programs and community groups across Pennsylvania.
The WLL is also working with state, tourism and community partners to make a limited allocation of specially priced $10 tickets available to Pennsylvania families. The initiative is designed to expand access to the championship, introduce more young people to professional women’s lacrosse and help the league pursue a new attendance benchmark for the sport.
For tickets and more information, visit www.thewll.com.
PHILADELPHIA-AREA CONNECTIONS
Maryland Charm
Emily Parros, head coach — Rutledge, Pa., native and Strath Haven High School graduate
Cassidy Spilis, midfielder — Tabernacle, N.J., native, Seneca High School graduate and Rutgers University alumna
Abby Bosco, defender — University of Pennsylvania alumna and current New Jersey resident
Olivia Dirks, midfielder — Wayne, Pa., native and Episcopal Academy graduate
California Palms
Marie McCool, midfielder — Moorestown, N.J., native and Moorestown High School graduate
Katie Detwiler, defender — Devon, Pa., native, Archbishop John Carroll High School graduate, current Philadelphia resident and assistant coach for the Saint Joseph’s University women’s lacrosse team
Anna Brandt, midfielder — University of Pennsylvania alumna