Colorado University Athletics
Whidden and Team USA Win Gold in U20 World Championship
August 28, 2024 | Lacrosse
By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication
BOULDER – Eleventh-year Colorado lacrosse head coach Ann Elliott Whidden and Team USA came out on top of the World Lacrosse 2024 Women's U20 Championship on Aug. 24 at Monk Kok Stadium in Hong Kong, China, beating Team Canada, 23-6. This feat marks back-to-back U20 World Championship gold medals for Whidden and the United States.
There were four Buffs representing four countries at the World Games, including sophomore midfielder Emily Dodd, who competed for Team Canada and returns to Boulder with a silver medal. Freshman midfielder Amelia Byerly (Naples, Fla./Phillips Exeter Academy) competed for Team Israel and freshman goalie Elena Oh (Chapel Hill, N.C./ East Chapel Hill HS) played for Team Korea.
"Competing in the U20 World Championships was such an amazing experience," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Just being in Hong Kong with 19 other countries represented was such a special cultural experience and one I will always remember. To get to compete for the gold medal again is not something I take for granted on any level. Coaching Team USA alongside some of the best coaches in the world was amazing, and getting to coach some of the best players in our sport was truly special and such a privilege for me. It was so fun to compete at that level and showcase our sport to the world."
Whidden served as an assistant coach for Team USA, her second appearance coaching for the World Games. The United States overcame six teams in seven games, including Germany, Puerto Rico (twice), China, Israel, Australia and Canada, and outscored their opponents by 191 goals overall. For Canada, Dodd had an assist and a draw control in the championship game, and she totaled seven goals, three assists, two draw controls and caused one turnover over the whole tournament.
"The championship game was just really exciting," Whidden said. "All the efforts culminate into that one game, and as a coach, it is just so fun to get to be a part of that energy and excitement. Playing Canada was amazing, I have so much respect for their coaching staff and the players. It was hard playing against Emily because you want to see your players be so successful and win, while at the same time you want to win. Emily had such an amazing tournament; I am so proud of her and all the work she put in."
Byerly and Team Israel came in 13th place at the World Games, overcoming Chinese Taipei, 15-12, in their last game of the championships. Oh and Team Korea place 18th overall, falling 20-10 to Scotland. Back on US soil, the freshmen Buffaloes have begun practicing with the team in Boulder.
"For all three players we had in the tournament – Elena, Amelia and Emily – it is an experience I think they will never forget, and one that will help them greatly as we go into this season," Whidden said.
In 2024, the Buffs (13-6, 5-2 Pac-12) came in second in the Pac-12 conference after falling to Stanford, 11-8, in the Pac-12 Championship match. Colorado ended the season ranked 20th in the USA Lacrosse poll and 22nd in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll. Senior attacked Madeline Pisani and sophomore defender Jess Peluso were both earned USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mentions at the end of the 2024 season, and four Buffs were chosen for the All-Pac-12 Team. The Buffs are coached by 11th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden 122-67 (.646), who was named IWLCA West/Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2017 and '18), was the 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year.
For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.
There were four Buffs representing four countries at the World Games, including sophomore midfielder Emily Dodd, who competed for Team Canada and returns to Boulder with a silver medal. Freshman midfielder Amelia Byerly (Naples, Fla./Phillips Exeter Academy) competed for Team Israel and freshman goalie Elena Oh (Chapel Hill, N.C./ East Chapel Hill HS) played for Team Korea.
"Competing in the U20 World Championships was such an amazing experience," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Just being in Hong Kong with 19 other countries represented was such a special cultural experience and one I will always remember. To get to compete for the gold medal again is not something I take for granted on any level. Coaching Team USA alongside some of the best coaches in the world was amazing, and getting to coach some of the best players in our sport was truly special and such a privilege for me. It was so fun to compete at that level and showcase our sport to the world."
Whidden served as an assistant coach for Team USA, her second appearance coaching for the World Games. The United States overcame six teams in seven games, including Germany, Puerto Rico (twice), China, Israel, Australia and Canada, and outscored their opponents by 191 goals overall. For Canada, Dodd had an assist and a draw control in the championship game, and she totaled seven goals, three assists, two draw controls and caused one turnover over the whole tournament.
"The championship game was just really exciting," Whidden said. "All the efforts culminate into that one game, and as a coach, it is just so fun to get to be a part of that energy and excitement. Playing Canada was amazing, I have so much respect for their coaching staff and the players. It was hard playing against Emily because you want to see your players be so successful and win, while at the same time you want to win. Emily had such an amazing tournament; I am so proud of her and all the work she put in."
Byerly and Team Israel came in 13th place at the World Games, overcoming Chinese Taipei, 15-12, in their last game of the championships. Oh and Team Korea place 18th overall, falling 20-10 to Scotland. Back on US soil, the freshmen Buffaloes have begun practicing with the team in Boulder.
"For all three players we had in the tournament – Elena, Amelia and Emily – it is an experience I think they will never forget, and one that will help them greatly as we go into this season," Whidden said.
In 2024, the Buffs (13-6, 5-2 Pac-12) came in second in the Pac-12 conference after falling to Stanford, 11-8, in the Pac-12 Championship match. Colorado ended the season ranked 20th in the USA Lacrosse poll and 22nd in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll. Senior attacked Madeline Pisani and sophomore defender Jess Peluso were both earned USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mentions at the end of the 2024 season, and four Buffs were chosen for the All-Pac-12 Team. The Buffs are coached by 11th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden 122-67 (.646), who was named IWLCA West/Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2017 and '18), was the 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year and 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year.
For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.
Players Mentioned
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