Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. Dhane Smith only recently learned that he was the first black MVP in NLL history.

The Buffalo Bandits’ star won the award in 2016 and, at the time, the league made no mention of his being the first black player to do so. Jason Wolf of The Buffalo News spoke with Smith about the subject.

“It’s really something that’s kind of eye-opening now that you mention it,” Smith told Wolf. “I didn’t really think about it; I was just excited to win MVP. It definitely means a lot if that’s the case.”

In a Twitter thread, Smith spoke about his background in a piece called “I Belong Here.”

Sometimes you gotta be comfortable being uncomfortable so here I am telling a bit of my story...Growing up BLACK is amazing but has NOT been easy. 1/9#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/qGmLOMgVG6

— Dhane Smith (@dhanesmith92) June 12, 2020

2. The Eastern Connecticut State women’s lacrosse team has a new coach.

Dee Stephan, a US Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee in 2010, will be the Warriors’ new coach. The position was previously a joint position filled by field hockey coach Christine Hutchison.

Stephan has been a driving force in the administration and advancement of girls’ and women’s lacrosse in Connecticut for 25 years across several levels.

More here.

3. Xander Dickson has removed his name from the NCAA transfer portal.

Inside Lacrosse’s Ty Xanders reports that Dickson, who missed 2020 due to injury, will return to Virginia after entering the portal. He scored 11 goals with eight assists during UVA’s 2019 national championship season.

More here.

4. USILA announced the 2020 Division I Scholar All-Americans on Friday.

Ninety-four men’s athletes made the cut. See the full list here.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• Shaun Gillispie and Natalie Palmeri were honored as US Lacrosse Impact Athletes for their volunteer work during the pandemic. 

• Paul Ohanian caught up with Jeff MacBean, the former Princeton All-American, in the latest installment of “The Vault.”

• Bennett Conlin of The Daily Progress spoke about the statue of Yeardley Love recently unveiled at US Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md.

• Anderson University named Russell Mackey its next women’s lacrosse coach. 

• The Halifax Thunderbirds are anxious to build on their first season in the NLL. 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

2004 Joe Walters’ gracing your timelines.

2004: Which @jwalters1 Did it Better?

2nd Quarter @TerpsMLax #1 Joe Walters Snipe.
3rd Quarter @TerpsMLax #1 Joe Walters Snipe. pic.twitter.com/O9KOpttYFO

— Lacrosse Film Study (@LaxFilmStudy) June 29, 2020

WHAT’S ON TAP

• Big Major League Lacrosse news could be on the horizon this week.

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