When Boston College women’s lacrosse legend Sam Apuzzo graduated in 2019, she thought she would never get to play the sport she loved at a high level again. For decades, there wasn’t an avenue for women to do so after college other than international competition.
“[That] would have been really devastating for me, and to who I am and what I care about and my passion,” the 2018 Tewaaraton Award winner said on Glenn Clark Radio July 12.
That’s why Athletes Unlimited, which describes itself as a “network of next generation professional sports leagues” for women, started a lacrosse league in 2021. It now features some of the sport’s top talent and brings in players graduating from college every year.
The league’s fourth season kicks off on July 18 at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md. Games can be seen on ESPN platforms and Bally Sports.
“The talent level is through the roof,” Apuzzo said. “Players are doing things that they never did in college because they’re only getting better when they get here.”
One of those players is Loyola graduate Sydni Black, who was selected fifth overall in this year’s Athletes Unlimited collegiate draft.
Black was the Patriot League Attacker of the Year in 2024, setting the program’s single-season goals record with 76 while also dishing out 30 assists. She is excited to play under the Athletes Unlimited rules format, which is drastically different than traditional team sports.
There are no set teams. Instead, the four squads change every week. The league’s 56 players must earn points for themselves by recording individual stats and succeeding as a team. For example, a player earns 12 points for each goal she scores, 45 points if her team wins and another 45 points if she is named the game’s MVP. After four weeks of competition, the player with the most points is named champion.
But Black doesn’t think obsessing over points is a recipe for success in the league.
“People might look at the scoring and say ‘a goal is worth this much, you can’t turn the ball over,’ but I think that forces you to play a little bit scared,” Black said on GCR July 15. “I’m going to try to stick to my normal game plan of playing like myself, contributing as much as I can to help my team and helping in any way I can.”
Apuzzo, who has been on her alma mater’s coaching staff since graduating in 2019, sees Athletes Unlimited as a way to bring the already growing popularity of women’s lacrosse to new heights. In her eyes, it’s her and her colleagues’ “duty” to grow the sport for its fans and former players.
“We were once in their shoes. To have a professional league for lacrosse now, which most of us here did not have growing up, is a huge step for our sport,” Apuzzo said. “To make sure that fans are just as excited to watch as we are to play, it keeps helping the growth of women’s lacrosse, and getting us to that next level, whether it’s the Olympics or growing professional lacrosse.”
Both men’s and women’s lacrosse will be medal events at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Men’s lacrosse hasn’t been featured at the Olympics since 1948 — and hasn’t been a medal event since 1908 — while women’s lacrosse has never been an Olympic sport.
Apuzzo, who is Boston College’s all-time leader in both goals and draw controls, was a feature piece of the 2022 U.S. national team at the World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship. She’ll almost certainly have a roster spot in Los Angeles if she chooses to attend. Athletes Unlimited provides her — and all of her fellow college graduates — a space to improve ahead of international competition.
“There is a level of competitiveness that helps the game grow, and helps the excitement on the field,” Apuzzo said. “The level of play only rises when you get here each summer. And I think even game to game it gets better.”
Black isn’t just in awe of the opportunity to play professional lacrosse. She is also getting to play alongside women she grew up idolizing, like Apuzzo, Charlotte North and Taylor Moreno.
“Playing with them will be just a phenomenal honor, even just to be on the same field as them,” Black said. “They’re pioneers that got us here in Athletes Unlimited [and] in the sport of lacrosse.”
“I’m still star-struck when I see them all, but we’re peers and we’re co-workers now,” she added.
For more from Apuzzo, listen to the full interview here:
For more from Black, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Athletes Unlimited