2019 was a historic year for pro lacrosse and with four leagues operating, fans were treated to plenty of lacrosse announcements, news and highlights. Pro Lacrosse Talk recaps the very best pro lacrosse moments from 2019.

19. Dallas Rattlers’ improbable mid-season turnaround

On July 14, the Dallas Rattlers lost their seven straight game to start the season and sat at the bottom of the standings. Everyone wrote their season off as lost. Yet, the team’s midseason additions of rookie Sean Sconone and Bradley Voight began to pay off and the team caught fire at the right time, winning six straight to give them a chance to make the playoffs. They would lose their two final games by one goal each to end the season, but Coach Bill Warder and the Rattlers deserve recognition for an incredible season turnaround.

18. NLL adds two new teams and expands to new markets

The NLL continued its league expansion in 2019 with the Rochester Knighthawks moving to Halifax to become the Thunderbirds and the addition of the New York Riptide and new Rochester Knighthawks franchise gave the NLL 13 teams for the first time since 2007. The league also realigned to three divisions, setting up the league for further expansion in the future.

17. First Japanese-born player Ai Hirose signs with WPLL

On May 23, the WPLL announced that defender Ai Hirose was signed by the WPLL Brave. A member of the Japanese Senior National Team, Hirose shot onto the WPLL’s radar after a strong showing at November’s WPLL Draft Camp in Tokyo, part of WORLDCROSSE. Hirose became the first Japanese player to play in the WPLL, bringing the total number of international programs represented in the league to nine.

16. WPLL and PLL visit Japan

In November, members of the WPLL and PLL traveled to Japan to participate in World Crosse, an international event consisting of multiple exhibition games that will include players from the PLL and WPLL facing off against Japanese All-Stars. In addition to the exhibition game, the PLL and WPLL hosted various youth clinics throughout the weekend in efforts to further grow the game in Japan.