England’s national women’s lacrosse team has once again asserted its dominance in European lacrosse, claiming their fourth successive title at the Women’s European Lacrosse Championship, often informally referred to as the Women’s Euros 2024 for major European women’s sports tournaments. In a compelling final held in Braga, Portugal, on Saturday afternoon, England triumphed over Israel with a decisive 12-5 victory. This win marks England’s eighth championship in the 12 editions of the tournament, solidifying their place as the leading force in European women’s lacrosse.
England’s Stellar Performance Leads to Victory
Milly Home delivered an outstanding performance in the final match, contributing significantly to England’s win with an impressive four goals and two assists. Her offensive prowess was complemented by the solid defense led by goalkeeper Dylan Whittington, who made four crucial saves. Whittington’s performance anchored a robust defensive effort from the English team throughout the game.
Across the entire tournament, Home showcased her scoring ability with a total of 13 goals and eight assists. England’s attack was characterized by its depth and balance, with key contributions from players like Jordan Carr and Georgina Southorn, each amassing 21 points, and Ella Cohen, who added 13 points. Dylan Whittington concluded the championship with an impressive save percentage of 56 percent, highlighting her consistent performance in goal.
This victory was particularly sweet for England as it was a rematch of the 2019 final held in Netanya, where they also defeated Israel. England’s continued success at the European level follows their strong third-place finish at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Towson in 2022, confirming their status as a top international lacrosse program.
Israel’s Silver Lining and Tournament Standouts
Israel secured their second silver medal at the Women’s Euros 2024, demonstrating their consistent competitiveness on the European stage. Impressively, despite losing in the final, four of the top five points scorers in the tournament were from the Israeli team. Jordan Lipkin, Jackie Stoller, Zoe Martin, and Hannah Hillcoff each exceeded 27 points over the seven games played, showcasing Israel’s offensive firepower and individual talent.
Scotland Claims Bronze in Thrilling Match
In a highly anticipated and closely contested match for the bronze medal, Scotland edged out Wales with a 9-7 victory. Chess Gray scored the pivotal goal that ultimately secured the win for Scotland. This bronze medal marks Scotland’s sixth in the Women’s European Lacrosse Championship, marking their return to the podium after narrowly missing out in 2019.
Ireland Secures Fifth Place, Championship Qualifications, and More
Ireland defeated Germany 10-7 to finish in fifth place at this Women’s Euros 2024. This result equals Ireland’s second-best finish in their five appearances at the European Championship. Ireland’s goalkeeper, Emily Gaven, was recognized as the player of the game for her exceptional second-half performance, where she made six saves on nine shots.
Beyond the medals, the Women’s European Lacrosse Championship served as a crucial qualifier for the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Japan. The top seven teams from this tournament—England, Israel, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, and Czech Republic—have all secured their spots in the global competition. Czech Republic clinched the final qualification spot after a dramatic victory over Italy.
Teams finishing from eighth to sixteenth place have qualified for the planned Division II Women’s Championship in 2026, indicating the expanding reach and competitive depth of women’s lacrosse in Europe.
Italy achieved its best-ever finish at eighth place in this edition of the Women’s Euros 2024. Spain also celebrated a program-best finish at 14th place. The tournament also marked the debut appearances of Poland and Portugal, further expanding the lacrosse community in Europe.
The final rankings for the Women’s European Lacrosse Championship 2024 are as follows:
- England
- Israel
- Scotland
- Wales
- Ireland
- Germany
- Czech Republic
- Italy
- Latvia
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Poland
- Spain
- Norway
- Finland
- Belgium
- Austria
- Portugal
Detailed results and statistics from the championship are available here.
Conclusion:
England’s dominant performance at the Women’s Euros 2024 reaffirms their position at the pinnacle of European women’s lacrosse. The tournament not only showcased top-tier athletic competition but also highlighted the growing global reach and increasing competitiveness of women’s lacrosse, setting the stage for the upcoming World Championship in 2026.
