Taylor Cummings is a three-time Tewaaraton Award winner, a member of the U.S. women’s national team, the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse champion and the head coach at McDonogh (Md.). “Taylor’s Takes” is presented by Gait Lacrosse. Be legendary.
This weekend, I was able to check an item off my bucket list as I called the Maryland-Ohio State game on Big Ten Network at their Chicago studios. I have worked a few BTN+ and ESPN+ broadcasts locally, but to be in an actual studio on live television was an entirely new experience for me.
My trip started off as most of my traveling adventures usually do — with a massive delay at BWI Airport. However, once I landed at Midway Airport Saturday night and got settled into my hotel that overlooked the gorgeous, albeit freezing Lake Michigan, the excitement really started to ramp up.
I started the next day the best way possible — with a workout in an empty hotel gym and a fantastic cup of coffee from a local shop. I studied my notes while sipping on my caramel macchiato and then headed over to the BTN studio where I met with my cohost Dean Linke. Dean had called many of my games back when I was the one in a Maryland uniform, so it was surreal to now be sitting alongside him watching the Terps of today play.
The day felt like a whirlwind. When I finally reached the Midway Airport again to return home to Baltimore, I reflected on the experience.
Of course, I was thrilled to call an amazing game between two great teams, both of whom have head coaches that I played for. But what made it more special was knowing the hard work so many people put in to get women’s lacrosse on actual TV. For so many years now, we’ve had coaches, players, referees, reporters and fans share outcries of disappointment when women’s lacrosse continued to be dismissed by television networks.
This year, we’ve seen an uptick in viewership, televised games and streamed games like never before. I personally never imagined that I’d be able to sit in a professional television studio talking about our game as it was played on a national network for all to see, but I just did. Though we have far to go still, it feels like our continued efforts are finally starting to pay off.
The lacrosse community needs to keep pushing and using our voices so that the next generation doesn’t feel surprised when they turn on the TV and see women’s lacrosse.
Let’s take a look at a few players from Division I who also had exciting weeks.
RACHEL CLARK, A, VIRGINIA
Clark has shown absolutely no fear throughout this entire season and her confidence continued to build last Thursday in the Cavaliers’ game against North Carolina. With her four goals on eight shots, she was the catalyst for Virginia’s offense and kept the game close early on.
Clark showed incredible poise for being only a freshman and took on seasoned UNC defenders Emma Trenchard and Emily Nalls without a second thought all night long. Her speed combined with her strength and accurate shooting makes her a deadly and versatile attacker who will only improve as years go on.