TOKYO - Coming off a fourth-place finish at the recent women's world championship in Japan, a lacrosse team with a heritage integral to the sport aims to be part of its return to the Olympic stage after 120 years in 2028.
The Haudenosaunee, a confederacy of indigenous peoples from northeast North America straddling the United States and Canada, are regarded as the originators of the sport, which has roots dating back to the 12th century and served in rituals and training for war.
Lacrosse was part of the Summer Games program in St. Louis in 1904 and in London in 1908 before featuring as a demonstration sport in three more Olympics until 1948.
"The Haudenosaunee are the originators of the game. So, there's no lacrosse without the Haudenosaunee," head coach Taylor Frink said ahead of the world championship. "To see the game develop, where it is right now is pretty incredible."
The Haudenosaunee team was formed in 1983 and its men's side, which made its world championship debut in 1990, has come third on the past three occasions.
Its women played at the tournament for the first time in 2009 and marked its fifth straight appearance with its best finish last week in Tokyo, beating England 10-9 in the quarterfinals before losing to Canada in the semifinals and to Israel in the bronze medal match.
Upon the confirmation of lacrosse's return to the games in 2023, then U.S. President Joe Biden backed the Haudenosaunee's participation at the Olympics.
As things stand, however, the Olympic Charter states the expression "country" means an independent state recognized by the international community that has its own national or regional Olympic committee.
Together with World Lacrosse, the Haudenosaunee have been sending joint statements to the International Olympic Committee to find a breakthrough.
"The best way to honor the Olympics and honor our game is to include the Haudenosaunee as participants," said Frink, whose team wore its traditional costume as the teams were introduced ahead of the world championship.
"We want to share the game with the world and everyone and it's been an inclusive sport (for) everyone that wants to try to play."
While lacrosse will be played with six players aside instead of the usual 10 at the Los Angeles Games, her team members know it is a chance for the sport and themselves to be known around the world.
"To have this game played in the Olympics and seeing teams like this compete, this just goes to show how awesome it is and how lacrosse has really brought people from across the world to connect," midfielder Sierra Cockerille said.
"The Olympics is obviously the biggest stage it could possibly be on. It's such an honor and super amazing to see, and hopefully we are able to compete in it."
