Annabelle Akintoye has been named the first Black Woman to captain England in any format of lacrosse at a major tournament after being selected as the England women’s box lacrosse team captain ahead of the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships.
Taking place from 20-29 September, Akintoye will make history by leading England into the first ever Women’s Box World Championship, running concurrently alongside the sixth edition of the men’s competition, in Utica, New York, USA.
Akintoye, along with fellow defender Davina Emetulu, will also become the first Black Women to represent England at a major tournament.
Akintoye has been a part of the England squad since the very first 44-player training squad was announced back in November last year and featured for England in their first competitive games at the ShE-Box event in April.
During that event, Akintoye played three times before getting injured as England picked up four wins from their five games against Finland, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Germany, and Canada (WGN).
After first picking up a lacrosse stick at Queen Anne’s School when she was just 11 years old, Akintoye had a successful playing career at school before playing for Swansea University while studying for her undergraduate degree.
From Swansea, she moved further north to the University of York where she continued to play before moving into club lacrosse in 2020 when she joined Spencer.
After two years at Spencer, Akintoye hopped across London to Camden Capybaras and took up the captaincy for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons; ahead of the 2024/25 season, Akintoye has been appointed as the Camden Capybaras Vice Chair.
With less than three weeks to go until England take to the floor against Hong Kong, China in their first match at the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships, Akintoye says she cannot wait for the tournament to begin.
“It is an absolute honour and a privilege to not only be part of the inaugural women’s World Lacrosse Box Championships, but also to go as the first Black Woman to captain an England Lacrosse team in any format.
“It is no small feat being the first to do anything, but I can’t wait to step on the floor with Laura Beaman, Lucy Ford and the team, and show the world what we’re made of!”
Akintoye will be assisted by Beaman and Ford, who have been selected as captain alternates during the World Lacrosse Box Championships.