Nationals announce Women's Roster for Atlas Cup
- Austin Owens
- Sep 19
- 5 min read
It’s been a successful run over the last year for the Haudenosaunee Women’s Lacrosse program. After capturing their first-ever Bronze Medal at the World Lacrosse Box Championships last fall, the Women’s team followed it up with another Bronze, this time at the PALA Women’s Lacrosse Championships in Auburndale, Florida.
With that victory, they punched their ticket to the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Field Championships in Tokyo. But before they set their sights on Japan, the team will compete in a trio of Sixes tournaments in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico this fall and winter.
The Atlas Cup will take place in Sparks, Maryland, from Sept 26-28. Super Sixes will quickly follow that in Oshawa, Ontario, from Oct 10-12 and finishing up at the Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) Sixes Cup in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Dec 10-14.
With eyes on continuing development, Head Coach Tim Bomberry has the chance to get a look at different players ahead of next summer’s Worlds.
“While we do have veterans who are 25 years and up, we do have some vets who are also 22 or younger, so that bodes well for our program. Because of school, fall ball, or work commitments, some of the vets can’t make every event, and there are openings for us to bring an up-and-comer to an event to see how they perform,” Bomberry said. “They need the opportunity to play at the highest level so they know the speed at which the game is played versus the US and Canada. If we’re competitive against them, we will be competitive against every team.
“The other is the familiarity the girls have with one another. The style of play is similar, and there is no ego amongst the players. Everyone wants the team to be the best it can be, and everyone is expected to be a team player.”
This flurry of tournaments over the last few years has also afforded the women the opportunity to play a lot of lacrosse as a group, which will continue to build their chemistry together.
The World Lacrosse Box Championships also allowed some of the participants to try out box, which helped them add some small-area skill development while also playing top competition en route to history last fall.
With every passing tournament, these women are not only developing as individuals but also developing together as a cohesive unit.
“The absolute best thing I appreciate about coaching the women at this level is that they all want to learn. When you see them get the concepts down and make it part of their individual game, and it all comes together, it really is a sight to see,” Bomberry said. “This group of Sixes vets beat Canada in 2022 just after Canada won gold at the World Games. That was the breakthrough moment to let them know they are not just happy to be there. They’re good enough to win.”
“The more that they stay together, the more they’re confident in one another and trust each other,” said Claudia Jimerson, Director of Women’s Lacrosse Operations for the Haudenosaunee Nationals. “They’ll do whatever it takes to win and do whatever it takes to help the team. We had a player like Fawn (Porter) play midfield a few years ago. Now she’s playing defense because that’s where she’s needed. You’re seeing some of the women rotating positions to where they’re needed.
“That’s what's nice about it. They have the athleticism and versatility to really allow them to play any position. Just putting the team above themselves is what’s most important.”
These two tournaments will be the next instance of learning and growing as a group. At the Atlas Cup, the team will feature some important leaders, like Sierra Cockerille, Lois Garlow, Timmia Bomberry, Bean Minerd, and Paige Crandall, who have played with the team for a number of tournaments.
The Haudenosaunee team will also feature some exciting up-and-coming stars like Kimaura Schindler, Paisley Cook, Chloe Luther, and Tallis Tarbell. Despite still being in college, all four have previous experience with the Haudenosaunee team, including the PALA Championship team that took home Bronze earlier this year.
It will be a good mix of present and future stars for the program, representing the program during the Atlas Cup and Super Sixes.
But these tournaments are also very important on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games, which is now under three years away. It’s a chance for players to strengthen their respective cases to play in Olympic Sixes, and a chance for the team to measure itself against top competition they’ll see down the road.
Jimerson discussed the importance of the team initiating the process of building towards 2028 immediately, with the team looking at the start of 2026 and into next summer to identify and narrow down the group from which they will make final selections once the Olympics approach.
But the excitement is building for the entire Haudenosaunee program. It’s been a long time coming for the team and players to be able to represent their families and respective communities on the biggest stage in sports.
“I’ll probably be pretty emotional. There’s just a lot of passion and a lot of hard work that goes into this. It’s not just about the game but about our people,” Jimerson said. “They’re recognizing our people, that we exist and are still here, and that this is our game. It’s just such a testament to who we are, and that the world recognizes that. It’s really a movement towards truth and reconciliation. So there’s much more in this than us just competing in the Olympics.
“But it’ll be powerful. It’ll really help us share our message and our values with the world and to try and bring peace, love, and healing through the game of lacrosse. The Creator will show us we’re doing it the right way, with honor and respect.”
The road is still long and there is work left to do until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but the foundation of that team will come together in tournaments like these in the coming years. The Atlas Cup and Super Sixes are the next chance for the team to prove themselves against the best in the world.
“Anytime you get to represent our Haudenosaunee people, either playing or coaching our game, is the best honor. You want to put forth your very best effort for all of us. We don’t just want to compete, we want to win!” Bomberry said. “Everyone involved in our Haudenosaunee program knows that Sixes is the style of the game going to the Olympics. How awesome would it be to win an Olympic gold medal playing our game? That possibility is not lost on anyone in our program, and as the time comes closer, the excitement builds to see our flag flying at the top and hearing our anthem at the Olympics.
“It’s our goal now to develop our players to be their absolute best and to win some events like the Atlas Cup, Super Sixes, and PALA Sixes. We always believe we can win. Now, it’s turning that belief into reality.”
