The ILA has selected 18 women to compete for the Blue-and-White at the 2026 European Women’s Box Lacrosse Championship in Prague.
From June 25 to July 4, men’s and women’s box lacrosse national teams from across the continent are set to determine the next European champions. All games in both tournaments are scheduled for one of three locations in Prague: LCC Radotín, Sportovní hala Jižní Město, and TJ Malešice. All three are accessible via the city’s public transport system.
Israel is one of seven teams playing in this first-ever European Women’s Box Lacrosse Championship. The opportunity to make an immediate impact has ILA Executive Director Ian Kadish intrigued. The Blue-and-White utilized the 2025 edition of LAXNAI in Utica, New York, as a training camp for Prague. Facing teams from across the world, Israel finished fifth with a 3-2 record and gained momentum as the tournament went on. Many of the same athletes came together again for the Traditions Cup at the Oneida Indian Nation in January for a second training camp. At that event, Israel went 5-0 and brought home the gold.
“We’re carrying tremendous enthusiasm about being in this inaugural competition,” Kadish explained. “We’re excited to make some noise and let people know what we’ve got going on.”
The first stage of the tournament will involve a full round-robin with all seven sides playing each other once. Those results will establish seeding for the knockout phase. The other six nations enrolled in the competition are England, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, and the hosting Czechia.
A full schedule for the tournament will be released later. It will be streamed live for free on YouTube, and tickets can be found on the event’s website.
Many of the athletes chosen to wear the Blue-and-White in Prague are raising proceeds to help get them there. You can follow the links attached to their names in the roster below to make a difference in Israel’s quest for gold this summer.
Israel 2026 European Women’s Box Lacrosse Championship Roster
| NAME | POSITION |
| Delaney Benson | Forward |
| Grace Burns | Defense |
| Bella Duffy | Forward |
| Sammy Fisher | Forward |
| Brooke Frishman | Defense |
| Annabelle Gersch | Forward |
| Kenzie Kowitz | Forward |
| Hanna Hilcoff | Forward |
| Kelly Layton | Goalie |
| Taylor Mullen | Forward |
| Shira Parower | Forward |
| Rachel Rosen | Forward |
| Rachel Rosenberg | Defense |
| Julia Rowland | Defense |
| Allison Shamir | Defense |
| Abby Smith | Forward |
| Samantha Smith | Forward |
| Sarah Utting | Defense |
This is the first group of selected players. The roster will be updated with additional players at a later date.
Coaching & Support Staff
Stu Sterparn will lead Israel as the team’s head coach, maintaining the same position he held in January at the Traditions Cup. Previously, Sterparn led Israel at the World Junior Indoor Lacrosse Championships, which ended in a bronze medal, and was an assistant coach for the Israel Men’s National Team at the 2024 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship.
In all, Sterparn brings 30-plus years of high-level coaching and playing experience into the fold. He was the all-time Senior B scoring leader in Alberta for more than 15 years and remains in the top three all-time in goals, assists, and points in the province. He was the head coach of the Serbia National Lacrosse Program for a decade and directed the program through multiple World and European Box Championships. Additionally, Sterparn has led Canada to gold at the World Junior Indoor Lacrosse Championship and been president and general manager within Canadian club systems.
“With strong leadership credentials, elite playing pedigree, and medal-winning results, he brings maturity, structure, and a global perspective to the staff,” Kadish said.
Dave McWhirter will join Sterparn in Prague as the team’s assistant coach. McWhirter has also been involved with Israel’s junior program and has become a valued member of the coaching staff. A defensive-minded coach with a strong box lacrosse background, he brings additional experience and stability to the bench.
Want to Compete in Blue and White?
This is only the beginning for the Israel Women’s National Box Lacrosse Team. If you are or can be an Israeli passport holder and want your shot at representing the Blue-and-White on an international stage, fill out our interest form and start your journey!