Last month, the Israel Women’s National Team made history by earning bronze at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. Israel’s historic run included the program’s first-ever World Championship semifinal appearance and a finish that made the Blue-and-White just the sixth nation ever to earn a medal at the event.
From July 24 through August 2, 16 nations met in Japan to determine the world’s top team. Israel’s bronze medal was the first of any kind for its country at the event.
The team finished the tournament with a 5-1 overall record, including a perfect 3-0 showing in pool play that placed Israel atop Pool D. An intense quarterfinal victory against Australia sent the Blue-and-White to their first semifinal in team history, and an unforgettable Sam Fisher hat trick in the Bronze Medal Game versus the Haudenosaunee delivered the team’s greatest accomplishment yet at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship.
“We know that we have made history and shown the world what Israel is capable of,” said attacker Jordyn Lipkin, one of two Israelis named to the tournament’s All-World Team. “I couldn’t imagine this accomplishment without every one of my teammates.”
The Blue-and-White became just the sixth-ever country to medal at the event, joining the United States, Australia, Canada, England, and Scotland in the elite group. The World Lacrosse Women’s Championship dates to 1982 and has had 12 editions, including 2026.
Pool Play at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship
The 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship’s pool play split its 16 competitors into four groups of four, with the top two finishers in each pool invited to the single-elimination quarterfinals. Philippines, Czechia, and Japan rounded out Israel’s pool.
Philippines offered Israel its first obstacle. The Blue-and-White’s opponent opened the scoring less than one minute after the opening whistle, instantly putting Israel on the back foot. But the bounce back was quick, and about four minutes later, Israel had a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish. The Blue-and-White posted five unanswered goals in the third period and left Oi Stadium with a comfortable 12-6 win. Jordyn Lipkin led the way for Israel with four goals and one assist.
Czechia provided less resistance. Israel already led 6-1 by the end of the first quarter. A third-period push from Czechia asked some questions, but the Blue-and-White cruised in the end, stacking seven scores in the game’s final 12 minutes to pull away, 20-8. Lipkin again stole the show with five goals and two assists.
“It’s a great privilege to represent something that’s so much bigger than us,” Lipkin said. “I feel lucky to be a part of this team.”
The hosts stood in the way at Israel’s last Pool D contest. Japan had also beaten the Philippines and Czechia, meaning both it and Israel were through to the quarterfinals regardless of their third result, but first place and a preferred path through the knockout stage was up for grabs.
Japan swung first, amassing a 3-0 scoreline in the game’s first 14 minutes. About two minutes later, Fisher got Israel on the board, sparking a comeback that saw the Blue-and-White gain a one-goal advantage in the middle of the second quarter. A Miyu Shojima score with three ticks to go until halftime sent the teams into halftime tied 5-5.
Both teams traded blows in a back-and-forth third quarter, and a 9-9 scoreline read across the scoreboard at the start of the fourth. That’s when Israel ratcheted up the intensity defensively, holding Japan scoreless in the final period to edge out the hosts, 11-9, and earn a top spot in Pool D.
Israel, the United States (Pool A), Canada (Pool B), and England (Pool C) all advanced to the playoff stage as pool winners. The Haudenosaunee (Pool A), Australia (Pool B), Puerto Rico (Pool C), and Japan claimed the other four spots as second-place finishers in their respective pools.
Israel Women’s National Team Bronze Path: The Playoffs
Israel reached the playoff stage at each of its three previous appearances at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship but failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals in all attempts. If the Blue-and-White were to make program history, they would have to do it against the Aussies, nine-time medalists and two-time champions at the event.
Neither team led by more than one until Georgia Latch put Australia up two a handful of seconds into the second period. More even play before the end of the quarter sent Australia into halftime leading 8-6.
Five minutes into the third quarter, that lead was gone, but Israel still couldn’t take the lead. Australia posted two more to regain its two-goal advantage with 7:23 to go in the period. It was the team’s second-to-last goal of the game.
Israel hit the net four straight times before Australia responded, but it was too little, too late. The Blue-and-White’s run that started with a Hanna Hilcoff goal – one of her four on the day – not even two minutes after Australia’s 10th lasted deep into the final quarter. Theo Kwas scored her third goal with 4:01 left on the clock, but her team was unable to produce the one more it needed. For the first time, Israel was off to the semifinal, 12-11.
Next up: the United States, a team that has played in every final of the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. The tough draw led to a tough game for the Blue-and-White, though they didn’t go down without a fight. Israel had the U.S. tied, 3-3, late in the first quarter following two Lipkin scores, but the second quarter was a different story. Including a late one near the end of the first, the United States went into the half on a 7-1 run. Israel got to within four in the third quarter, but that was it – the Americans punched their ticket to the final, 19-7.
There was still plenty to play for, though. No matter the result versus the U.S., Israel would have its shot at a medal, and that came in the form of a Bronze Medal Game against the Haudenosaunee. Neither Israel nor the Haudenosaunee had ever medaled at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, adding even more pressure to both squads in the game’s build-up.
That didn’t faze Israel. The Blue-and-White scored the game’s first four goals and held a 6-1 lead at the break. The closest the Haudenosaunee got was to within three with 9:45 to go in the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t muster anything more before the end as Israel grabbed bronze, 7-4. Fisher led all scorers with a game-high three goals, and Orly Sedransk and Julie Krupnik held firm together in net with a joint 10-save performance.
“Throughout the championship, the players displayed extraordinary ability, determination, and faith in completing an unforgettable journey with a Blue-and-White medal,” said Arik Kaplan, president and CEO of Ayelet, the federation of non-Olympic sport in Israel. “The Israel National Team proved that it belongs at the top of the world.”
The 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship
The United States went on to win gold, the team’s 10th in 12 all-time tries at the event, over Canada, 16-4. The silver medal is Canada’s fourth and sixth medal all-time. The final standings were:
- United States (6-0)
- Canada (5-1)
- Israel (5-1)
- The Haudenosaunee (3-3)
- England (5-1)
- Australia (3-3)
- Japan (3-3)
- Puerto Rico (2-4)
- Argentina (3-2)
- Philippines (2-3)
- Ireland (2-3)
- Wales (1-4)
- Czechia (2-3)
- Scotland (1-4)
- Chinese Taipei (1-4)
- Germany (0-5)
World Lacrosse named two Israelis to the tournament’s World Team: Lipkin (attack) and Racheli Levy-Smith (defense). Their outstanding performances locked them in as the first two Israeli women to ever achieve World Team status.
Lipkin led the entire tournament in goals (19) and points (25), and her six assists were enough to tie her for sixth in that category. Levy-Smith was a monster at the X, controlling a tournament-high 63 draws out of 111 attempts – that 56.8 draw percentage put her among the most efficient in Japan, especially at her volume.
Fisher was Israel’s second-highest scorer with 12 goals, followed by Hilcoff (10) and Zoe Martin (9).
What’s Next for the Israel Women’s National Team?
Israel Lacrosse wants to extend its gratitude to every player, coach, staffer, and backer over the many years who have contributed to this great milestone, as well as their loved ones, whose support made their sacrifices possible.
But there is a lack of satisfaction – in a good way. It’s part of why the first-ever Women’s World Lacrosse Championship medal is coming to Israel.
“The team reached the game for a medal and made history doing so, but the players weren’t satisfied with it,” ILA Executive Director Ian Kadish explained. “They gave everything, played with great pride, and brought Israel its first medal at the World Championships. This is a huge moment for the national team and all of Israel Lacrosse.”
That hunger pushes the ILA forward to achieve even greater heights. The organization intends to capitalize on the momentum this performance provides with some major opportunities looming in the not-so-distant future.
While the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship is played in the traditional field discipline and lacrosse will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in the Sixes format, Israel’s historic performance in Japan showed just how high the level of women’s lacrosse within the program has become.
With the Olympic cycle now underway, that success creates real momentum – and an exciting opportunity for the next generation of Israeli and Jewish players who want to be part of what comes next.
“In anticipation of lacrosse entering the Olympics in Los Angeles, this achievement gives a significant boost to the sport in Israel and opens up a new and exciting horizon for it,” Kaplan explained.
We encourage all Israeli and Jewish lacrosse athletes to draw inspiration from the Israel Women’s National Team in their own journeys. If you are or could be eligible to compete for Israel Lacrosse and have interest in pushing the sport forward in the Holy Land, complete this form to stay updated on how you can make an impact.