Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. The Premier Lacrosse League championship game is set.
Chaos, an unlikely finalist after finishing group play with an 0-4 record, will meet defending PLL champion Whipsnakes in Sunday’s final (12 p.m. EDT on NBC).
The Chaos continued their elimination round about-face with a 13-9 win over Archers LC in the first semifinal Thursday at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Josh Byrne and Curtis Dickson scored three goals apiece, with Byrne delivering the goal of the tournament — a one-handed, between-the-legs runner that went bonkers on social media.
The Whipsnakes, who as the undefeated No. 1 seed had three days off, withstood another furious comeback from Redwoods and prevailed 13-12 in overtime in Thursday’s second semifinal. Jeremy Sieverts scored the game-winning goal at around 1:30 a.m. Eastern time.
2. The Women’s Professional Lacrosse League is shutting its doors after just two seasons.
Inside Lacrosse first reported the news Thursday. WPLL CEO Michele DeJuliis told IL that the players could have opportunities with Athletes Unlimited, a home for underrepresented sports that offers its athletes profit-sharing and a major role in decision-making.
“The decision to close down the WPLL was a difficult one, but in order to give these exceptionally talented women what they deserve we had to find investors and sponsors that could fully support the league financially,” DeJuliis said.
3. Will Manny wrote about his five favorite feeders, as US Lacrosse Magazine debuted its “5-and-5” series Thursday.
Manny, the Archers LC and U.S. training team attackman, is known as one of the top finishers in the game. But he has been at his best, he wrote, with Rob Pannell, Ryan Boyle, Tom Schreiber, Grant Ament and Steele Stanwick as distributors.
4. Kyle Hannan resigned as the head coach of the Mercer men’s lacrosse team. The school announced the coaching change Thursday. Citing his desire to move into the “business sector” of the sport after 34 years as a college coach, Hannan, whose longest stint was at Division III Goucher, gives way to interim coach Chad Surman.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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About the five Division I lacrosse-playing sisters of the McMahon family, and namely U.S. U19 team comeback kid Michaela McMahon.
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How two lacrosse-playing teens are using the sport as a platform to feed the hungry in San Francisco.
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Why youth lacrosse tournaments are cause for both relief and concern in Maryland.
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GQ’s Q&A with PLL co-founder and Atlas LC midfielder Paul Rabil on going vegan and pulling off the quarantined PLL Championship Series.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
NBC Sports and ESPN agree: Josh Byrne’s goal was a thing of sheer beauty.
This might be one of the sickest goals we've ever seen. @premierlacrosse pic.twitter.com/cm25dphBjL
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 7, 2020
stayed up to make sure @Joshbyrne94 got what he deserved. @SportsCenter @PremierLacrosse #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/kvNbKAqLU7
— Paul Rabil (@PaulRabil) August 7, 2020
WHAT’S ON TAP
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More PLL coverage, including looks at how each of the finalists got to this point and a feature on head official Matt Palumb — who may have more airtime than anyone.
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Seventh-seeded Chaos LC will meet top-seeded Whipsnakes LC in the PLL Championship Series final Sunday at 12:30 p.m. EDT (NBC). Follow along with us on Twitter and Instagram.