ASHKELON, ISRAEL — The Israel Lacrosse Association (ILA) is excited to announce the appointment of Sophie Bass as the new head coach for the women’s national lacrosse team. With an impressive background in lacrosse coaching, her service to lacrosse in Israel, and a deep understanding of the game, Sophie brings a wealth of experience and commitment to lead the team as they prepare for upcoming international competitions.
Coach Bass serves as the head women’s lacrosse coach at Widener University, where she has been an integral part of the coaching staff since 2019. Her extensive coaching experience reflects the ongoing commitment of the Israel Lacrosse Association to nurturing and strengthening women’s lacrosse in Israel, ensuring the continuous growth and development of players, and achieving success on the international stage.
Since 2017, Sophie Bass has been actively involved with Israel Lacrosse. That year, she resided in Ashkelon, developed the sport on the ground, and participated in the Israel Lacrosse League (IPLL) throughout the summer. Additionally, Sophie interned at the Wingate Institute in the Sports Achievement Unit in Netanya. Her internship primarily focused on sports analytics for the Olympic Committee of Israel and her responsibilities included analyzing relevant data from Olympic and European Championships.
Following that summer, Sophie returned to Israel as a chaperone for the Winter Service Trip. This 10-day trip is designed for high school students, offering them opportunities to travel, play, and coach lacrosse, as well as engage in school visits to promote the growth of the sport. In 2022 and 2023, Coach Bass led additional ILA service trips (one Winter and one Summer) continuing to expand the ILA’s impact and bolstering domestic lacrosse in Israel.
Originally from Westfield, N.J., Bass graduated with Honors and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Albright College in May 2019. She earned her Master’s in Sports Management with a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletics Administration from California University of Pennsylvania in December 2021.
With her proven track record of developing players’ skills and cultivating a winning culture, Bass is well equipped to guide the Women’s National Team to achieve its full potential. “I am honored and thrilled to accept the position of Head Coach for the Israel Women’s National Team,” said Bass. “Israel has shown tremendous growth in lacrosse over the years, and I am excited to contribute to the development of the women’s program. Our goal is to build a competitive team that showcases the passion and talent of Israeli lacrosse players on the international stage.” Under Sophie Bass’s leadership, the Women’s National Team is set to compete at the highest level in international tournaments, with their sights on the Women’s European Championships in Portugal next summer, July 11-21, 2024.
“We have full confidence that Sophie Bass’s expertise, leadership qualities, and dedication to the sport will undoubtedly inspire our players to reach new heights and strengthen Israel’s presence in women’s lacrosse,” says Ian Kadish, the Executive Director of Israel Lacrosse.