Devon Wills is known now as the head coach of the Harvard women’s lacrosse program, but she’s so much more. A three-time U.S. national team gold medalist, Wills is one of the best goalies in the sport’s history — both men and women.
Wills even gave playing in the MLL a try, being picked up by the New York Lizards in the 2013 Supplemental Draft. She put together a unique career, but we’ve come to expect nothing less from the goalie.
Wills spoke with Paul Carcaterra on this week’s episode of “Overtime.” Here are the top takeaways.
Wills Almost Went All-In on Hockey
Devon Wills was born in Denver, Colo., and played plenty of hockey growing up. She played with boys in hockey and developed an aggressiveness in order to compete on the ice — a drive she still has today.
Wills was so invested in pursuing the Olympic hockey team, she attended prep school to focus on one sport. The stint at prep school didn’t last long, as she soon became homesick and began to question whether hockey was her future.
Late in high school, Wills met then-U.S. national team star Danielle Gallagher and then-Canadian national team goalie Susan Stewart, both of whom trained in Denver. Gallagher suggested Wills come train with them, and she was hooked.
“It was almost like getting private lessons for me,” Wills joked. “Lacrosse was introduced to me at the right time, and it took over and became a new passion to replace what hockey was for me growing up.”
The MLL Move
After winning gold with the U.S. national team in 2013, Devon Wills had accomplished the biggest feat in women’s lacrosse twice. She loved playing women’s lacrosse, but looked for a new challenge.
The MLL’s New York Lizards reached out and asked Wills if she thought a woman could play in the professional league.
“Let me give it a try,” she responded.
Wills was claimed by the Lizards for the 2014 season, becoming the first female to play in the MLL. Her father asked if she was sure she wanted to take on the challenge. Fans called it a publicity stunt.
She spent the season on the practice squad, but gained memories she won’t soon forget.
Why She Returned to Lacrosse
After Wills graduated from Dartmouth in 2006 with an Ivy League degree and spent two seasons coaching the Big Green, she followed the advice of friends and family and pursued a career in finance.
After two years and a gold medal in the 2009 world championship, Wills decided to make lacrosse her career. She joined Denver as an assistant for two seasons before heading to former U.S. teammate Lindsey Munday at USC.
“I was missing that community,” she said of her return to lacrosse. “Maybe finance had that community, but I just didn’t think it was going to be there when I left the sport.”
Almost a decade later, Wills now leads the Harvard women’s lacrosse program and is looking forward to a bright future as a head coach.