The Women’s Professional Lacrosse League will honor 80 women’s lacrosse icons Sept. 30 in the WPLL Legends’ Celebration and Legends’ Game at US Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md.
Part of the WPLL’s Exhibition Weekend, the Legends Celebration is an opportunity to pay homage to the many players and coaches that helped pave the way for women’s lacrosse. All individuals being honored have been invited to participate in the Legends’ Game at 12:30 p.m. ET, after which select players from the 100 drafted Aug. 23 in the inaugural WPLL draft will play in an exhibition game.
The league’s inaugural season next summer will include five teams — the Baltimore Brave, New England Command, New York Fight, Philadelphia Fire and Upstate Pride. Alex Aust (Upstate), Taylor Cummings (New York) and Dana Dobbie (Baltimore) will be among participants in the Sept. 30 exhibition.
WPLL founder and CEO Michele DeJuliis and commissioner Jen Adams both will play in the Legends’ Game.
“There are so many important trailblazers within the women's game that deserve this recognition. These are names that may never have the chance to play professional women's lacrosse, but are the reason that others have this opportunity today,” Adams said. “As we continue to push forward, we are committed to looking back in order to honor and respect the amazing women of our sport. This event is just one of the many ways we plan to interweave past, present and future into the fabric of the WPLL.”
The Legends’ Celebration will honor elite lacrosse players from across several eras, spanning players like Betsy Dougherty, who represented Team USA at World Cups in 1986 and 1989, and Devon Wills, who captained this summer’s gold medal winning team. The list of legends also includes former Loyola coach Diane Geppi-Aikens, who is receiving the honor posthumously.
Jess Wilk, who has won five World Cup championships as a U.S. player and assistant coach, said the Legends’ Celebration and Game are “an amazing opportunity to step on the field one more time with my former teammates and play behind some of the best players to ever play the game."
Fans are welcome to join the Sept. 30 festivities at 11:45 a.m. ET, when players will meet fans for autographs and photos. The Legends’ Game will start at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the WPLL Exhibition at 2 p.m. ET. Admission is free. Below is a list of coaches and players who will be honored as part of the Legends’ Celebration.
Coaches
Diane Geppi-Aikens
Kelly Amonte Hiller
Feffie Barnhill
Carol Cantele
Kim Ciarrocca
Heather Dow
Missy Foote
Ricky Fried
Gary Gait
Josie Harper
Jane Miller
Christine Paradis
Sharon Pfluger
Jackie Pitts
Cathy Reese
Chris Sailer
Tina Sloan Green
Sue Stahl
Cindy Timchal
Players
Jen Adams
Sarah Albrecht
Kelly Amonte Hiller
Amy Appelt
Kara Ariza
Karen Borbee
Erin Brown
Sarah Bullard
Quinn Carney
Katie Chrest-Erbe
Kim Ciarrocca
JoJo Connelly
Dee Cross
Gail Cummings-Danson
Rachael DeCecco
Michele DeJuliis
Betsy Dougherty
Erin Elbe
Michi Ellers
Sarah Forbes
Danielle Gallagher
Kathleen Geiger
Cherie Greer
Laura Harmon
Sue Heether
Kim Jackson
Barb Jordan
Alex Kahoe
Christie Kemezis
Kerstin Kimel
Kristen Kjellman
Sonia LaMonica
Meghan McNamara
Stacey Morlang
Lindsey Munday
Sascha Newmarch
Robyn Nye Wood
Mandee O’Leary
Gina Oliver
Claudia Ovchinnikoff
Alex Ovchinnikjoff
Jill Pearsall
Caitlin Phipps
Kelly Rabil
Cathy Reese
Candi Finn Rocha
Bonnie Rosen
Katie Rowan
Amory Rowe Salem
Jen Russell
Crista Samaras
Kristin Sommar
Lauren Simone Farrell
Kim Simons Tortolani
Sheehan Stanwick Burch
Randall Swope
Michele Uhlfelder
Acacia Walker
Jess Wilk
Julie Williams
Devon Wills
Tami Worley