Set to launch in February 2025, the Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL) will make history as the second-ever professional women’s lacrosse league, founded by the Premiere Lacrosse League (PLL), which up until now has focused primarily on men’s lacrosse. 

The WLL’s four teams—the Boston Guard, the New York Charging, the Maryland Charm, and the California Palms—will compete for the inaugural Championship Series trophy in a round-robin tournament during the 2025 PLL Lexus Championship, running February 11-17, 2025. 

Historically, female lacrosse players have faced limited avenues for professional competition. Athletes Unlimited launched a professional women’s lacrosse program in 2020; however, it lacked substantial recognition due to its lack of support from any preexisting programs. In contrast, the WLL has attracted much public interest, largely attributable to its affiliation with the well-known PLL.

Varsity girls lacrosse captain and senior Kristin Lang offered insight into how the WLL could impact high school competition saying, “The WLL introduces a key part of what women’s lacrosse programs have been missing when it comes to generating interest; exposure, the more girls that see the sport the more that will come to try out.”

To further enhance the appeal and excitement of the game, the WLL will enjoy competing in the Olympic Sixes format. In this format, there will be six players per team on the field at a time, 8-minute quarters, a 30-second shot clock, and the defending team regaining possession after a goal is scored. These new rules will result in faster-paced, more exciting games for fans.

Olivia Kuehl, a player on the University of Maryland’s women’s lacrosse team stated, “At such a high-level program, [UMD] so many girls want to take their game to the next level and this gives them the opportunity.”

In addition to advancing professional opportunities, the WLL hopes to inspire young athletes and grow the sport’s popularity, particularly outside the East Coast where it has traditionally thrived. Kuehl suggested expanding to the Midwest, while Lang emphasized the league’s potential to drive high school participation. 

The WLL will further enhance visibility for women’s lacrosse, as will the inclusion of lacrosse as a medal sport in the 2028 Summer Games—the first time since 1908. This development marks a significant milestone, considering the historical challenges faced by women’s lacrosse in securing professional opportunities.

Lang said, “It’s about time, I’ve been waiting to see a proper professional league for women for a while now.” 

This sentiment—that a professional women’s league is long overdue—is captured by the WLL’s slogan, “It’s Our Time” and with the WLL’s launch, the future of women’s lacrosse is brighter than ever.