Australian Women’s Field Lacrosse Team named for 2026 World Championship
Lacrosse Australia has today announced the Australian Women’s Field Lacrosse Team set to compete at the Nissin Foods 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo, Japan, from 24 July to 2 August.
This marks Australia’s 12th appearance at the Women’s Field Lacrosse World Championship, with the team entering the tournament ranked fourth and firmly focused on a return to the podium.
Image Credit: World Lacrosse / Ariya Hoedajanto
Selected following a national camp on 11 April in Melbourne, the team reflects a strong blend of emerging and experienced talent.
FULL ROSTER
Natalie Eastwood (USA)*
Grace Fujinaga (VIC)*
Hannah Gough (SA)*
Elizabeth Hinkes (WA)
Ashtyn Hiron (WA)
Lauren Hunter (VIC)
Stephanie Kelly (VIC)
Theadora Kwas (VIC)
Rebecca Lane (VIC)
Georgia Latch (VIC)
Ocea Leavy (WA)*
Erin Mitchell (WA)*
Shannon Mitchell (WA)*
Danelle Mollison (VIC)*
Sarah Mollison (VIC)
Jess Morrison (SA)*
Olivia Parker (SA)
Sarah Smith (VIC)
Miriam Suares-Jury (VIC)*
Abby Thorne (SA)
Lauren Tolve (VIC)*
Bonnie Yu (VIC)
Alternate Athletes
Olivia Antulov (WA)
Laura Evans (SA)
Emma Green (WA)
Ebony Norman (VIC)
= *On debut
Theadora Kwas, Rebecca Lane, Ashtyn Hiron and Elizabeth Hinkes all make their third Senior World Championships appearance for Australia, alongside seven returning for a second campaign, and 10 athletes set to make their debut in Tokyo.
While Sarah Mollison will make her sixth senior World Championship appearance in 2026, having represented Australia across two decades including as a member of the 2005 World Championship-winning team and vice-captain in 2017.
Olivia Antulov, Laura Evans, Emma Green and Ebony Norman have been named as alternates.
Max Madonia, Head Coach of the Australian Women’s Field Team, said the selection highlights the depth of talent across the country.
“This group reflects the strength and depth of talent across Australia. The quality coming through at this level is a strong indicator of where the sport is heading, with athletes continuing to raise the standard and push for opportunities on the international stage, said Madonia.
“The selected group brings together a strong mix of skill, game awareness and adaptability, with players complementing each other across the field. There’s genuine depth across this group, giving us flexibility and confidence in how we perform under pressure,” said Madonia
The championship features 16 national teams that qualified through continental championships, who will compete across multiple venues in Tokyo.
The majority of matches will be played at Oi Stadium, with Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium hosting the semifinal round and medal matches.
The tournament will be played in a two-phase format, beginning with pool play followed by knockout finals and classification matches.
During the opening stage, teams are divided into four pools of four and play a round-robin format across five days, with each team competing in three matches. Australia has been drawn in Pool B with Canada (2), Wales (9) and Germany (14), with results determining progression into the finals.
A total of 44 matches will be played across the tournament, with the streamlined 16-team format delivering a more competitive environment.
Tickets for the championship went on sale on 15 April, with strong interest expected as lacrosse builds momentum ahead of its return to the Olympic Games programme at Los Angeles in 2028.
The selected squad now enters the final phase of preparation, focused on delivering a strong performance in Japan.
The Nissin Foods 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship will bring together the best women’s lacrosse players in the world. Australia will aim to build on its strong history in international competition and showcase the strength of the green and gold on the global stage.
Lacrosse Australia also acknowledges the Sue Sofarnos Foundation, which has contributed $350,000 in direct support of Australian women’s lacrosse since inception, strengthening opportunities and pathways for women across the sport.