University of Delaware Athletics
Nakrasius Relishes Experience Coaching at Women’s Lacrosse World Championship
9/21/2026 5:45:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware women's lacrosse associate head coach Kara Nakrasius did some world traveling this summer. While many of her coaching peers were out hitting the recruiting trail for the majority of July, Nakrasius was in Tokyo at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women's Championship as a member of the Philippines coaching staff.
The Philippines, with a roster made up of players in high school, college and several who had already graduated, was making its debut on the world stage, qualifying for the world championship for the first time as a nation. The squad qualified by finishing third in its first-ever international tournament at the 2025 Asia‑Pacific Women's Lacrosse Championship. Nakrasius, who joined the staff after the team had qualified, also made her international debut in Tokyo.
"It was unreal," Nakrasius said. "Obviously, with the Philippines, it being the first time they made it to the World Championships, it was just an unmatched experience. They were really pushing the pace for their culture and for things that are bigger than them-selves. It was such a great opportunity to grow the game."
Nakrasius was brought onto the Philippines staff by former Delaware associate head coach Steph Lazo. Lazo, the current Lehigh head coach, was on staff with the Fightin' Blue Hens from 2019-24 and had served as the Philippines player/head coach during the qualifying process. However, she could not do both at the world championship and chose to play, which opened up a spot for Nakrasius, who is going into her fifth season on the Delaware coaching staff. She coached alongside head coach Shannon Nee, an associate head coach at Columbia, and Alyssa Guido, the head coach at Colgate.
"Steph and I picked up like we never left off," Nakrasius said. "We're best friends, and we still talk to each other all the time. It was really cool to take on that experience with her because I know this was a lifelong dream of hers, and it really came to fruition. As a friend, a former coworker, her coach and everything in between, it was such a heartfelt moment to see her thrive in that environment."
Nakrasius, who runs Delaware's defensive and draw control units, coached the same groups for the Philippines. The international rules forced a different style of play than what Nakrasius runs with the Blue Hens, but the results were the same. Delaware held 11 opponents to single-digit scoring in 18 games this past season while winning the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) regular season championship. In five games in Tokyo, the Philippines' defense only allowed one opponent to reach 10 goals.
The Philippines opened the world championship with a tough loss against Israel, which turned into one of the tournament's Cinderella stories. Two days later, the Philippines took on the host nation Japan and held a 7-6 lead after three quarters before falling late in a heartbreaker. While the results weren't there through the first two games, there was a sense of confidence building among the coaches and players.
"The more time we had with each other, the better we became," Nakrasius said. "We started to understand our strengths and weaknesses and how we worked with each other. Every time we were together and stepped on the field, whether it was for practice or a game, we became better and closer as a whole group. It was awesome to see how much they put into it and how, with each game, it started to pay off more and more."
In its final game of pool play, everything came together for the Philippines in a dominant 11-5 victory over Czechia. Lazo led all players with four goals and a five-goal second quarter broke the game open as Nakrasius and her squad comfortably cruised to the country's first world championship win.
"It was really cool to see the group come together and pull out such a great first win," Nakrasius said. "I just felt so full from it because you see all the work, energy and effort that the girls put in, along with the coaching staff. They were celebrating something bigger than themselves. As a coaching staff, you're just so proud. You get to see everything they put into it really pay off for them. Being able to take that second and really celebrate how far the Philippines had come was truly a euphoric feeling."
The win over Czechia put the Philippines into the top consolation bracket, battling with three other countries for 9th-12th place. The Philippines blew past Wales 12-4 in the consolation semifinals, as Nakrasius' defense allowed just one goal through the first three quarters to pull away. In the ninth-place game against Argentina, which had beaten Ireland in its semifinal, the Philippines dropped another heartbreaker, falling 9-8 in overtime to finish 10th overall in its inaugural appearance at the world championship.
"At the end of the day it was a great first showing for the Philippines," Nakrasius said. "As a coaching staff, we put so much energy and effort into the team. The same was true for the girls. They put so much of their heart and soul into something that was difficult. It was the first time they had ever done it, and to finish in 10th place was really awesome.
"There's no other way I can describe it other than saying my cup was so full. It was such a special coaching group and such a special group of girls. I felt so full coming back from Japan because of the experiences and memories we collected as a group and because of what I experienced on a personal level. It was a heartwarming experience."
Now back in Newark and into fall practices with the Blue Hens, Nakrasius has shifted her focus to preparing Delaware for its second season in the ASUN. She returns with a wealth of experience from her summer in Tokyo, bringing new perspectives and schemes learned on the international stage. Nakrasius will look to carry those experiences into the upcoming season as UD looks to make another championship run.
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For the latest on Delaware women's lacrosse, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
The Philippines, with a roster made up of players in high school, college and several who had already graduated, was making its debut on the world stage, qualifying for the world championship for the first time as a nation. The squad qualified by finishing third in its first-ever international tournament at the 2025 Asia‑Pacific Women's Lacrosse Championship. Nakrasius, who joined the staff after the team had qualified, also made her international debut in Tokyo.
"It was unreal," Nakrasius said. "Obviously, with the Philippines, it being the first time they made it to the World Championships, it was just an unmatched experience. They were really pushing the pace for their culture and for things that are bigger than them-selves. It was such a great opportunity to grow the game."
Nakrasius was brought onto the Philippines staff by former Delaware associate head coach Steph Lazo. Lazo, the current Lehigh head coach, was on staff with the Fightin' Blue Hens from 2019-24 and had served as the Philippines player/head coach during the qualifying process. However, she could not do both at the world championship and chose to play, which opened up a spot for Nakrasius, who is going into her fifth season on the Delaware coaching staff. She coached alongside head coach Shannon Nee, an associate head coach at Columbia, and Alyssa Guido, the head coach at Colgate.
"Steph and I picked up like we never left off," Nakrasius said. "We're best friends, and we still talk to each other all the time. It was really cool to take on that experience with her because I know this was a lifelong dream of hers, and it really came to fruition. As a friend, a former coworker, her coach and everything in between, it was such a heartfelt moment to see her thrive in that environment."
Nakrasius, who runs Delaware's defensive and draw control units, coached the same groups for the Philippines. The international rules forced a different style of play than what Nakrasius runs with the Blue Hens, but the results were the same. Delaware held 11 opponents to single-digit scoring in 18 games this past season while winning the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) regular season championship. In five games in Tokyo, the Philippines' defense only allowed one opponent to reach 10 goals.
The Philippines opened the world championship with a tough loss against Israel, which turned into one of the tournament's Cinderella stories. Two days later, the Philippines took on the host nation Japan and held a 7-6 lead after three quarters before falling late in a heartbreaker. While the results weren't there through the first two games, there was a sense of confidence building among the coaches and players.
"The more time we had with each other, the better we became," Nakrasius said. "We started to understand our strengths and weaknesses and how we worked with each other. Every time we were together and stepped on the field, whether it was for practice or a game, we became better and closer as a whole group. It was awesome to see how much they put into it and how, with each game, it started to pay off more and more."
In its final game of pool play, everything came together for the Philippines in a dominant 11-5 victory over Czechia. Lazo led all players with four goals and a five-goal second quarter broke the game open as Nakrasius and her squad comfortably cruised to the country's first world championship win.
"It was really cool to see the group come together and pull out such a great first win," Nakrasius said. "I just felt so full from it because you see all the work, energy and effort that the girls put in, along with the coaching staff. They were celebrating something bigger than themselves. As a coaching staff, you're just so proud. You get to see everything they put into it really pay off for them. Being able to take that second and really celebrate how far the Philippines had come was truly a euphoric feeling."
The win over Czechia put the Philippines into the top consolation bracket, battling with three other countries for 9th-12th place. The Philippines blew past Wales 12-4 in the consolation semifinals, as Nakrasius' defense allowed just one goal through the first three quarters to pull away. In the ninth-place game against Argentina, which had beaten Ireland in its semifinal, the Philippines dropped another heartbreaker, falling 9-8 in overtime to finish 10th overall in its inaugural appearance at the world championship.
"At the end of the day it was a great first showing for the Philippines," Nakrasius said. "As a coaching staff, we put so much energy and effort into the team. The same was true for the girls. They put so much of their heart and soul into something that was difficult. It was the first time they had ever done it, and to finish in 10th place was really awesome.
"There's no other way I can describe it other than saying my cup was so full. It was such a special coaching group and such a special group of girls. I felt so full coming back from Japan because of the experiences and memories we collected as a group and because of what I experienced on a personal level. It was a heartwarming experience."
Now back in Newark and into fall practices with the Blue Hens, Nakrasius has shifted her focus to preparing Delaware for its second season in the ASUN. She returns with a wealth of experience from her summer in Tokyo, bringing new perspectives and schemes learned on the international stage. Nakrasius will look to carry those experiences into the upcoming season as UD looks to make another championship run.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's lacrosse, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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