For decades, lacrosse was seen as the quirky cousin of American sports—popular on East Coast college campuses, but rarely discussed beyond springtime highlights. Fast forward to today, and lacrosse is in the midst of a professional renaissance. With national leagues, packed stadiums, rising television exposure, and a loyal fanbase, professional lacrosse is carving out its place in the sports world—and it’s doing it with speed, style, and grit.
Welcome to the world of professional lacrosse: a high-octane blend of finesse and physicality, where tradition meets innovation and the game is evolving faster than ever.
A Brief Primer: What is Lacrosse, Anyway?
For the uninitiated, lacrosse is a sport where players use sticks with mesh heads (called crosses) to pass, catch, and shoot a small rubber ball into the opposing team’s net. Think hockey, but on grass (or turf), with a bit of basketball-style movement, soccer strategy, and football-level contact.
Originating from Native American tribes who played the game as a spiritual and cultural ritual, lacrosse is one of the oldest team sports in North America. Today, it’s divided into several formats, including:
- Field Lacrosse (outdoor, 10v10)
- Box Lacrosse (indoor, 5v5 plus goalies, played in a hockey rink)
- Sixes (a faster-paced version for the Olympics with 6 players per side)
Each version has its own flair, but all share the same DNA: fast breaks, pinpoint passes, bone-rattling hits, and goals that happen in the blink of an eye.
The Rise of Pro Leagues: PLL and NLL
Professional lacrosse in North America currently revolves around two main leagues:
Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)
Founded in 2019 by former player Paul Rabil and his brother Mike, the PLL revolutionized the pro field lacrosse model. Unlike traditional franchise systems, the PLL started with a tour-based model, where all teams played in the same city each weekend. This meant fans in cities across the U.S. could watch all the action live, and national TV coverage became easier to manage.
In 2024, the PLL announced a transition to city-based teams, signaling its next phase of growth and local fan engagement.
Key features of the PLL include:
- Elite talent, mostly from NCAA Division I backgrounds
- Fast-paced gameplay with a 52-second shot clock
- Broadcasting partnerships with ESPN and significant social media engagement
National Lacrosse League (NLL)
The NLL is the top professional box lacrosse league, founded in 1986. With teams primarily in Canada and northern U.S. cities, the NLL leans into the hockey-like atmosphere of indoor lacrosse—glass walls, boards, and raucous crowds.
Box lacrosse is more physical and compact, requiring players to navigate tight spaces and absorb hits while still making precise passes and shots. If the PLL is lacrosse’s version of track-and-field, the NLL is its version of rugby in a phone booth.
Stars of the Game: Who’s Leading the Charge?
While lacrosse may not yet have household names like LeBron or Mahomes, it’s quickly building a roster of charismatic and wildly talented stars:
- Lyle Thompson: A generational talent and a proud ambassador of the sport’s Native American roots. His combination of skill, humility, and advocacy makes him a face of the game.
- Trevor Baptiste: A faceoff machine who dominates the X in the PLL. His athleticism and style have redefined what it means to control possession.
- Zed Williams, Jeff Teat, Dhane Smith: Among the top scorers in the NLL, these players blend power and creativity in a way that keeps highlight reels buzzing.
The Fan Experience: Culture Meets Community
Attending a professional lacrosse game is like stepping into a mashup of tailgate culture, EDM festival, and sports showdown. The PLL emphasizes fan engagement, with player meet-and-greets, music, and youth clinics. The NLL thrives on tribal energy, with fans banging on glass and chanting in unison.
Both leagues have leaned heavily into social media, embracing meme culture, mic’d-up moments, and player personalities. This digital-savvy approach has brought younger fans into the fold—and it’s working.
The Future: Olympic Dreams and Global Growth
The game is going global, and fast. Lacrosse has been added to the program for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in its Sixes format. This shorter version of the game is designed for speed and accessibility, making it ideal for new international audiences.
Meanwhile, pro leagues are expanding, sponsorships are growing, and youth participation is booming. Colleges in the South and West—regions previously considered lacrosse “outsiders”—are building competitive programs. And the influx of diverse voices and players is making the game more inclusive and representative than ever before.
Final Whistle: More Than a Niche
Professional lacrosse may not yet rival the NFL or NBA in revenue, but it’s not aiming to be a niche anymore. With elite talent, innovative leagues, and a clear roadmap for growth, it’s becoming one of the most exciting emerging sports in the U.S. and beyond.
So, the next time you see a highlight of a no-look goal or a jaw-dropping save, take notice. The world of professional lacrosse is no longer on the sidelines—it’s sprinting toward the spotlight with a full head of steam.
And trust us—you’re going to want to keep your eyes on the ball.
