Clark details more about her first professional lacrosse game, matchups and hopes for the future of the sport below.
This conversation was edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: What was All-Star Weekend like?
Rachel Clark: Just being able to put on the WLL jersey and be a professional for the first time is obviously a dream come true. I went into the weekend just excited. There was really no other way I’d rather spend my Fourth of July.
Being able to step foot on that field with the players I got to play with, it was really surreal for me. I went in hoping to have fun, play well and being able to start off strong was definitely exciting, but the whole experience, to get to be a part of such an event that’s growing the game, is what I was looking forward to.
Q: What stuck out to you from it?
RC: Charlotte’s speech right before we went on the field during our pregame huddle. She talked about how much of an honor this is and being able to play in an all-women’s stadium and get to be a part of history. This is the first-ever. We’re setting the scene for what’s to come. She talked about being able to play with your heart on fire and how we’re all meant to be here, so go out there and have so much fun. That’s what stuck with me because no one is continuing their career unless they have so much love for the game. To look around and see who you’re surrounded by, be grateful for it and appreciate it and go out and have fun. That’s what I tried to do, and I had the best time doing it.
Q: You mentioned what an event like this means for the game of lacrosse. From your perspective, what is that significance?
RC: When I was growing up, I would’ve never thought there would’ve been professional women’s lacrosse, and even now, that it’s going to be in the Olympics too. Being alongside the men is really cool. Now, together, with ESPN — even seeing the postgame top-10 plays on ESPN and having advertising for the WLL in the corner of the TV — I think it’s just really cool that women’s professional sports are more visible now.
Q: The on-field product is a part of that growth, as well. How was it being on a starting attack line with all Boston College alumni, and what were your pregame conversations and game plans?
RC: We were coming off playing with Team USA in Orlando, so it was nice to get to play with Charlotte and Kenzie for a couple of days before heading into All-Star Weekend. But they’re two players I’ve watched my whole life, and BC alum. And I am so lucky to have already had a good relationship with them.
They were just like, ‘Do your thing.’ And I’m like, ‘You guys take the ball.’ They were the most supportive and gave me all the confidence in the world and were like, ‘You have the green light. We want you to go.’ We trust in each other down there. Around the crease, we thought the middies were going to be tired running back and forth, let’s work on slowing things down, controlling the offense and communicating with the middies. We just wanted to put on a show and play really cool lacrosse.
It’s nice to be surrounded by your family. Everywhere you go, there’s always BC lacrosse.
Q: How does that familiarity with BC personnel help on and off the field?
RC: From watching, being coached by or playing with, you know tendencies pretty well. You know you’re surrounded by your people and it makes you more comfortable on the field, but it’s also so cool to meet new people and get to play with people who have always been your opponents.
Q: Who were you excited to play with in the All-Star Game, whether someone new or who you’ve played with before?
RC: Every time I get to play with Charlotte and Kenzie, I think they’re the coolest people in the world. They made me want to go to BC. I grew up watching them play.
I think playing against Sam Apuzzo was funny, because she was my coach at BC. Having to play against her was not very fun, but it’s cool. It’s cool to see her doing her thing on her side of the field.
I also liked having Taylor Moreno on my team, because she’s also no fun to go up against. But again, everyone on that field, I think I’ve been in awe of at least once in my life.
Q: How did Charlotte and Kenzie influence you to want to go to BC?
RC: I think Sam did too. All of them. Whenever you watch BC play and see players like that you can tell by how Sam and Charlotte celebrate and Kenzie is a wizard with her stick. They started the program’s legacy by bringing the team to a Final Four and national championship back-to-back-to-back-to-back. You want to play with the passion and love for the game they have. You want to be like them.
Q: You’re most familiar with Sam Appuzzo as a coach. Did she surprise you in any way as an opponent?
RC: Having been coached by her, you just know she is the best of the best. Sometimes we’ll show clips from her playing days or she’ll jump in and play scout. She’s the toughest competitor you’ll ever meet. Every time she steps foot on the field, it’s so cool to watch because getting to learn from her every day and having her teach you parts of her skillset compared to seeing it first-hand on the field is really cool. It’s like, wow, she is every bit as good as everyone says she is. It’s so cool to know that’s who you got to play two years for.
Q: What did it mean to be the first 2025 college graduate taken during the WLL All-Star Selection Show?
RC: It was such an honor. I was watching the screen having no idea what to expect. It was so surreal. It did light a little bit of a fire under me to perform. I just love the game, so every opportunity I get to play, I want to put my best foot forward.
