Israel Women’s Lacrosse Team to Compete for Bronze at World Championship in Tokyo

The Israel women’s lacrosse team lost 19-7 to the top-ranked United States in the semifinals of the World Championship held in Tokyo on July 31, 2026. Despite the defeat, Israel delivered a strong performance, notably scoring in every quarter against the dominant American team, a feat only Ireland matched in the tournament. Israel kept the first quarter close at 4-3 and achieved a rare 2-2 tie in the third quarter, marking the first time since 2009 that the U.S. did not win a quarter in the World Championship. The U.S. scored a goal just eight seconds before the third quarter ended to prevent an Israeli quarter win.

Jordan Lipkin led the Israeli scorers with three goals, while Zoe Martin, Shira Parwar, Sam Fisher, and Shelby Sullivan each added one. Israel will face the Haudenosaunee Nationals on Sunday in the bronze medal match. This tournament marks Israel’s first-ever advancement to the World Championship semifinals, following a perfect group stage and a dramatic 12-11 quarterfinal victory over Australia. This achievement builds on the team’s recent European box lacrosse championship win.

Ian Kadish, CEO of the Israeli Lacrosse Association, praised the team’s historic run and expressed pride ahead of the bronze medal game. Eric Kaplan, president and CEO of "Eilat," the umbrella organization for non-Olympic sports, commended Israel’s competitive spirit against the world’s best and called the team’s progress a source of national pride. The bronze medal match against Haudenosaunee Nationals will determine Israel’s final standing in the tournament.