Stewart Huntington
ICT
SYRACUSE, New York – The Haudenosaunee Women’s Nationals are on a roll.
The women’s lacrosse team is getting noticed – around the world and locally.
The team won a bronze medal in June at the Pan American Lacrosse Association championships, qualifying them for the World Women’s Lacrosse Championships in Tokyo in July 2026, and providing a boost to efforts to win the Haudenosaunee Confederacy recognition for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Games.
It was the first time the team had competed at the senior level in international competition, but it’s clear they belong on the international stage.
“It’s finally time. We’re here,” said Bean Minerd, Onondaga Nation, the longest-serving veteran of the Nationals team. “We’re not leaving. … We’re ready and we’re here and it’s just been amazing.”
Teammate Chloe Luther, Seneca Nation, agreed, noting the poise the women showed in the Bronze Medal match against Puerto Rico after falling behind by five goals.
“I was not shocked that we won. I was very confident in our team’s ability to make the comeback,” she said. “It was really awesome. I was just super proud of our team. We’re meant to be here. We are finally here.”
And their community noticed, too. On Saturday, July 26, the hometown Syracuse Mets – the top farm club for the Major League New York Mets – honored the women’s team at their annual Haudenosaunee Night.
“Being honored by the Mets is just amazing because that just shows that it’s bringing awareness, representation for us, showing that we’re still here, we’re still resilient,” said Minerd, a Nationals team member since 2011. “We’re a strong woman playing women’s lacrosse at a professional level.”
And playing it well, given the evidence.
The come-from-behind victory over Puerto Rico in the Pan American tournament in Florida marks an important milestone. The Haudenosaunee Nationals – men’s and women’s teams – have petitioned the International Olympic Committee to invite them to represent the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The six-nation Confederacy in what is now New York and Canada is the world’s oldest continuously operating democracy and is the birthplace of lacrosse, a sacred game of peace – the Medicine Game – to the Haudenosaunee.
“Now that we have that stamp and we got qualified, it was the biggest stress off our shoulders,” said Haudenosaunee Nationals Director of Women’s Lacrosse Claudia Jimerson, Cayuga Nation. “We had to qualify because we know the Olympics are watching and we have to show that we can play at this level, at the Olympic level – with Team USA and Team Canada.”
The U.S. and Canadian teams took the gold and silver medals, respectively, in Florida and are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the world. But, according to Minerd, the American and Canadian players know the Nationals are on the scene. “I know when you play against Team USA, they’re nervous playing us,” she said. “But like, we’re ready.”
The Nationals – and the entire Haudenosaunee Confederacy – hope the IOC hears that. “For us, our biggest focus is trying to make our statement so that when it comes to Olympics 2028, they realize they can’t really leave us out,” said Nationals goalie Paige Crandall, Onondaga Nation descent.
It’s unclear today if the message these women are sending is making it all the way to Switzerland and into the offices of the IOC, but the word clearly landed at NBT Stadium in Syracuse, New York, where the local New York Mets affiliate team celebrated the Nationals – and their accomplishments – at the recent game.
The baseball team’s annual Haudenosaunee Night featured traditional singing and dancing and a commemorative Haudenosaunee jersey giveaway. But the night clearly belonged to the women lacrosse players.
“I think their story is great,” said Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol. “I think last year they were No. 8 in the world, and now they’re No. 3 in the world. And hopefully someday they’ll be No. 1 in the world. And hopefully both teams (men’s and women’s) will be playing in the Olympics. This being the traditional tribal lands of the Haudenosaunee, it needs to be recognized.”
While the lacrosse players enjoyed the celebration at the stadium, tossing ceremonial first pitches with a lacrosse stick and hamming it up for selfies with the team mascot, they also took time to send a message to Native girls and young women who statistically face headwinds as strong as any other North American demographic. The theme? The Medicine Game – or any sport – heals.
“Don’t let the critics get to you. You are meant to play this sport,” said Luther. “Our people created this sport. Don’t let anybody tell you that it’s a man’s sport. Because this is for all of us, and it’s truly a Medicine Game. Heals everyone. It can heal your vulnerabilities. It has helped me a lot during my life.”
Jimerson, who played on the Nationals and has four daughters who play for, or played for, the team, said young women should latch on to something they love.
“To our young Indigenous women I say, no matter what it is, find something that they’re passionate about, something that brings out love and fun,” Jimerson said. “I think once you can find that passion, whether it’s for softball, ice skating, hockey – whatever – continue to do it. Because if you can find other women and young girls who believe in the same thing and feel the same way, bringing them all together for a common purpose is magic.”
Minerd looked inward.
“You can do it. No dream is too big or too small,” she said. “Continue dreaming. Continue putting in that effort. You’re going to flourish. I was that little Native girl wishing and dreaming. And I’m here today. And I’m so proud of myself. Be proud of yourself and love yourself because that’s what matters. Be your biggest supporter, biggest cheerleader, and you’ll see success coming your way.”