The Premier Lacrosse League is set to launch a four-team international tournament, mirroring the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off. The PLL, along with its Women's Lacrosse League, will create the four-country Lexus Global Lacrosse Games tournament, starting on December 8-13 in Washington, D.C.
The idea for the tournament came directly from the NHL's playbook, with the PLL taking cues from its successful international events. The NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025 drew record ratings, including a staggering 10.8 million viewers for the final on Fox. The PLL is hoping to replicate this success with its own international event.
The tournament will feature teams from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. While the PLL is still finalizing the teams, it's likely that the U.S. and Canada will be involved, given their dominance in the sport. The tournament will be played in the same Olympic sixes format, which will be reintroduced at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The PLL is working closely with the National Lacrosse League (NLL) to draw players from both leagues. This will enable the international event to pluck from a deeper talent pool, including several PLL stars who play in both leagues. The tournament will also serve as a prime opportunity for the players to get ready for the Olympics.
The Global Lacrosse Games is another piece of the PLL's push to raise its profile and expand. The league launched the first full season of the four-team Women's Lacrosse League this year and has secured a $100 million Series E financing round led by Ares and former Yale lacrosse player Joe Tsai. The PLL is also continuing to march toward its goal of moving away from the single-entity model into individual franchise ownership.
The tournament's broadcast partner has not been confirmed, but ESPN is the current exclusive home for PLL and WLL games. The PLL is also in market shopping both scripted and unscripted IP, including a television show and motion picture.
The Lexus Global Lacrosse Games will be a significant step in the PLL's growth and development. It will provide a platform for the sport to showcase its talent and potentially attract new fans. The tournament's success will also be closely watched by the International Olympic Committee, as it considers the inclusion of lacrosse in future Olympics.
Source: Yahoo Sports