Marquette University Athletics
Gabriel Reflects on Summer with Athletes Unlimited
9/16/2021 4:40:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
MU's all-time points leader competed in league's inaugural season
MILWAUKEE — Anyone in the professional realm knows joining a startup is a daunting task. For Marquette women's lacrosse alum Grace Gabriel, the summer was spent on a leap of faith into a brand-new organization.
The most decorated athlete in Marquette women's lacrosse history played in the inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse, which took place this summer in the Metro DC area.
"I first heard about it when they announced it back in January," Gabriel said. "I reached out to Michelle Tumolo, who was on the Player Executive Committee for the league, to figure out a way to get my name into the pool. So I got my name in there, I filled out a sheet with all my information and sent it back in."
Gabriel, originally a native of New York, had been living in Denver and worked in accounting for Vail Resorts while playing in adult lacrosse leagues.
But months after her initial interest and a week before the league started, Gabriel received a text from another executive committee member, Amber McKenzie, who invited her to play in the professional ranks, and she jumped at the opportunity.
Within a few days, Gabriel had packed all her belongings and moved to DC for the season despite knowing very few other players.
"I was a volunteer assistant at North Carolina two years ago, and a couple of the players that I coached on that team are playing (in Athletes Unlimited)," Gabriel said. "They were pretty much the only two that I knew here from that experience in Chapel Hill, and everyone else, I had never had contact with."
Outside of those UNC players, the other participants in the league included members of the U.S. National Team which Gabriel watched in her childhood.
"I grew up watching Michelle Tumolo and Kayla Treanor, then when I was in college, Kenzie Kent was in the Final Four, Sam Apuzzo was in the Final Four," Gabriel said. "Being able to come here and play with them has been awesome."
The league has multiple on-field changes compared to the college game, including 10-on-10 action with a 60-second shot clock.Â
But the most drastic alteration to the league was roster construction. Players change teams each week, with the four top performers from each weekend being named captains for the next week and getting the chance to draft their teams.
"It's kind of a crazy format, nothing lacrosse has ever seen before," Gabriel said. "I think it's definitely gotten people to tune in because the format is so interesting."
Despite the newer rules, Gabriel managed eight goals, three assists and three draw controls while playing in 15 total contests against the top players in the world.
The former BIG EAST Co-Midfielder of the Year said her favorite part about the league was simply getting to play high level lacrosse another time.
"It's been crazy to step out on a lacrosse field again," Gabriel said. "Once I graduated, I never thought I'd be able to do it again, so a lot of emotions from college have been flooding back and the feeling of how awesome it is to be on the field. It just makes me think about all the great times I had in college and how much I cherish those."
Overall, Gabriel said the opening season of AU was a success both for herself and for the sport of women's lacrosse.
"It's really exciting just to be a part of it, and just to say that I had a role in the beginning of this women's professional league is so awesome," Gabriel said. "It's really exciting, especially for young players who are watching this league, it's something to work for now that's past college. It's so exciting to know that there's an opportunity for women after college lacrosse to further their career."Â
Moving forward, Gabriel is uncertain what the future will hold in terms of lacrosse.Â
"I love playing lacrosse, so if I have the opportunity to play again, I definitely would," Gabriel said. "Obviously, pro lacrosse isn't at the level yet where you can just live off of a professional contract, so in terms of the other work that I'll be doing, I'm not sure. I'm kind of just taking it day-by-day."
In the meantime, Marquette's all-time points leader will continue her accounting work in Denver and stay involved in coaching at the high school level.
All in all, Gabriel credits her time at MU as being critical to her success not just in lacrosse, but in all areas of life.
"Being a leader at Marquette, being a captain and building those relationships has helped me all throughout my life, even non-lacrosse related," Gabriel said. "That's a huge thing that's gotten me where I am today."
