USA outclass Canada to win fifth straight gold in Tokyo; Kennedy named tournament MVP

World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Tokyo 2026: USA outclass Canada to win fifth straight gold

Meeting in their fourth consecutive gold-medal game, the hosts of the 2028 Olympic Games once again outshone their rivals in Japan to capture their 10th world title. Ally Kennedy was named tournament MVP.

The United States overwhelmed Canada 16-4 to win their fifth successive title at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo on Sunday evening (2 August).

Sam Apuzzo led USA with three goals and a pair of assists as they captured their 10th overall championship in an all-round domination at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground.

Ally Kennedy was named Most Valuable Player of the 10-day tournament. The U.S. exuded their class through their six victories in the competition, winning each game by at least a dozen goals. USA and Canada met for the fourth straight time in the championship game, but the result did not prove to be different.

“The performance was historic,” Kennedy said. “I think it was a solid USA lacrosse tournament win, one that I hope people will look back on and talk about how dominant this team was and remember how we ran through this tournament, how we carried ourselves and the fact that we were all a unit the entire time.”

Apuzzo opened the scoring six minutes into the game before Kenzie Kent doubled the lead two minutes later - and the U.S. never looked back. They erupted for six goals each in the second and third quarters with Canada unable to punch back from a hole they fell into early on.

“The U.S. is very talented,” Canada’s Aurora Cordingley said, tipping her hat to the opposition. “They’re fast, they don’t have many holes on the team - if any - so we knew it was going to be a challenge.

“I think we shot ourselves in the foot a bit in the first quarter just not finishing our shots, a few misclears and really kind of set the tone for the rest of the game.

“I think we have a lot to work on and hopefully that we’ll be motivated to keep working hard for the next two years as we go into the Olympics. Just lots to work on and keep showing up and keep working hard and getting better every day.”

Qualifying for LA28 begins in the autumn from September to December with the four continental world championships qualifiers - Pan-America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa - that will pave the way for 16 teams to the inaugural World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in October 2027, where four countries can clinch a quota at the Games.

The sixth and final Olympic berth will be contested at the Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the northern hemisphere spring of 2028.

While USA have already qualified as hosts, Kennedy said complacency will not be an issue over the next two years.

“Yeah ,just take any opportunity I can to play, especially to represent the U.S. and train for sixes because it’s a different game,” she said.

“But I know I’m trusting my team-mates around me that they’re going to do whatever they possibly can to be the best and ready for ’28 when that comes around.”

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