The Charlotte North craze is sweeping the nation. Think Beanie Babies, Heelys or Snuggies levels of hype. The difference? The market isn’t about to crash on North.
North’s star only continues to rise, with the NCAA’s name, image and likeness legislation and the increased exposure of women’s lacrosse allowing the Texas native to elevate her place within the pantheon of the sport’s most popular figures.
After a season during which North set the single-season goals record, won the Tewaaraton Award and led Boston College to its first-ever NCAA championship, North is flying high as the USA Lacrosse Magazine Division I Women’s Preseason Player of the Year. With one more year of NCAA eligibility remaining, she’s gearing up for an encore. Could she somehow be even better?
“I don’t think you break the single-season goals record and stop there,” said Dana Boyle, ACC Network analyst and host of USA Lacrosse Magazine’s “No Boundaries” show. “I think she’s capable of more.”
Boyle likened North to Kayla Treanor, Michelle Tumolo and Jen Adams — icons who took the game to new heights with a creativity that spawned countless backyard trick shot imitations from young players around the globe.
At the USA Lacrosse Fall Classic in October, spectators jubilantly screamed North’s name anytime she touched the ball in her first international exhibition as a member of the U.S. training team. She posed for pictures and signed autographs for anyone who asked. She also was the main attraction at the IWLCA Presidents Cup in Dallas, her hometown.
Still getting comfortable with her stardom, North blushes when asked about the droves of little girls who make every Boston College game have the same energy as Beatlemania in the 1960s.
“I’m just in it for the ride,” North said. “I’m a kid from Texas, but I’ve been given a chance to play this amazing sport, and I’m thankful for every step along the way.”
Training with the U.S team has kept North sharp for a 2022 season during which even more eyes will be on her, the metaphorical target affixed firmly on her back. Even more so than before, defenses will commit their attention to the exuberant attacker. Strategies will be drawn up around her. Games will be won or lost because of her.
That comes with the territory after scoring 102 goals in 21 games, six of which came in the NCAA final against Syracuse, tying the championship game record.
“I’ve never met a player that loves the grass roots of lacrosse as much as Charlotte does,” Boyle said. “She just wants to play the sport she loves with the people that she loves at the school she loves. She’s a happy, happy kid.”
Without the ominous cloud of championship defeats hanging over the program, Boston College can now turn its attention to another first: defending its crown. That adds a certain layer of confidence to a team that wasn’t lacking in that department.
If you thought the steady stream of North highlights — usually multiple jaw-droppers per game — was a lot, then just wait for February.
“Watch every game. It’s as simple as that,” Boyle said. “Every game, she’s different. She throws a different creative wrinkle at you. You just can’t look away because you might miss something.”
This story appears in the January edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Join our momentum.