Story by
Global Lacrosse Games roster breakdown: Australia women
- Story by
- Global Lacrosse Games roster breakdown: Australia women
Australia has historically battled for a top-four international ranking in every world tournament it's been a part of. The teams that have stood in its way: the USA, Canada, England and the Haudenosaunee.
Australia will have a chance to make its case against three of those four nations at the Lexus Global Lacrosse Games. Finding the perfect balance between veteran experience and young talent could be the recipe for Australia's success in this tournament.
Advertisement
As they prepare to take the field in Washington, D.C., in early December, let's break down Australia's roster.
Field Players
Grace Fujinaga
Bec Lane
Georgia Latch
Ocea Leavy
Erin Mitchell
Hannah Nielsen
Lauren Tolve
Bonnie Yu
Theadora Kwas
Marlee Wood
Miriam Suares-Jury
Goalies
Natalie EastwoodElizabeth Hinkes
One word to describe this roster is…
Experienced.
Hannah Nielsen's 20-plus years of playing for Australia speak volumes. The lacrosse legend has played in international championship settings wearing the Australian uniform since the early 2000s. No one on any opposing team can match her experience, game-learned lessons and long-lasting national pride.
Advertisement
The New York Charging's Grace Fujinaga has been playing with programs in Melbourne, Australia, since 2023 and officially made her World Championship debut in Tokyo this past summer. She brings a wealth of high-level game experience from her college career at Penn and Northwestern, as well as at the professional level in the WLL.
Marlee Wood is another intriguing name on this roster. Wood played with the U19 national team and on two World Championship rosters with Australia, earning silver in Prague in 2009 and bronze in Canada in 2013. She played collegiately at Loyola ('14), and after stepping away from the sport for some time, she is making a comeback after having her second child in hopes of making the Australian team for the 2028 Olympics.
Australia will need the wisdom and championship experience of these leaders to spearhead a successful Global Lacrosse Games.
Biggest star:Georgia Latch
What makes Latch such a dominating force is her innate ability to facilitate offense in multiple ways. Her stat lines throughout her career show a consistent balance across goals and assists. Without even watching her play, this tells us she is a dual threat with the ball. Her stickwork is out of this world, her decision-making with the ball is that of a champion, her power shots are noteworthy and her ability to make her teammates look good is superior.
Advertisement
Latch has been a consistent standout for the Australian national team ever since she scored six goals in the bronze-medal game at the 2019 U19 World Lacrosse Championships. As a rising sophomore in college, she led the senior Australian team with 19 points in the 2022 World Lacrosse Championship. Most recently, Latch notched a tournament-best 43 points (26G, 17A) in the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship.
These types of commanding performances were also the norm throughout Latch's college tenure at Loyola ('25). A two-time IWLCA All-American, she finished her career ranked second in program history with 394 points and 193 assists. Latch is an offensive highlight reel worth watching.
Breakout candidate:Miriam Suares-Jury
Suares-Jury is an automatic goal-scorer for Australia. She plays with immense speed, and her athleticism ranks among the best of the best.
Advertisement
Just a junior at Loyola, Suares-Jury plays with grit and poise. She is Australia's second-leading scorer behind Latch and provides an easy option when the offense needs a goal. Her 29 goals in the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship led the entire tournament.
Suares-Jury's comfort in the midfield shines in the Sixes discipline where the pace of play is lightning-fast, and she can match speed with some of the fastest midfielders in the world. She will fit right in battling amongst the Marie McCools and Ally Kennedys of the world.
They can win it all if…
They get off to a hot start.
Advertisement
Australia starts its Global Lacrosse Games schedule against a USA team that has been on a roll the last few months. There are no warmups for this Australian team; it goes right into battle with the best.
If they can win timely possessions, manage the game clock and enable their top scorers to tally double digits in that first game, they can build off that positive momentum and stack wins throughout the remainder of the tournament.
Biggest concern:Uphill battle
The last time Australia finished better than third place in a tournament was in the 2009 World Lacrosse Championships in Prague, where it took home the silver medal. Can this group utilize its combined veteran leadership and fresh talent to break through to earn a deeply desired top-two finish? Or will the domination of teams like the USA and Canada continue?
Advertisement
Stat to know:5
This is a team led by all-time veteran and legend of the game, Nielsen, who has played in five World Championships for Australia (2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022.) We could even say the stat to know is seven, since Nielsen also represented Australia twice on the nation's U19 team to launch her historic international run.
Nielsen is making her return to the field after battling an injury that sidelined her for the 2026 World Lacrosse Championships in Tokyo this summer. She is an incredible player who battles to the end of every whistle, breaks down opponents with her game IQ and can score on command. Entering her 10th season as the head coach at Michigan, Nielsen brings a world-class wisdom that could be the difference-maker in this tournament.
Australia will open its Lexus Global Lacrosse Games slate against the current world champion United States on Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET. For more information on how to follow the tournament, click here .
