Not long ago, Gabby Chiappetta was a Falls Church kid learning lacrosse on local fields. On Nov. 2, she takes the field in Salou, Spain, with a chance to move one step closer to the Olympics.
The Falls Church native, who plays defense and maintains both U.S. and Italian citizenship, will represent Italy at the 2026 European Sixes Lacrosse Championship. It is the first step toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where lacrosse returns as a medal sport for the first time since 1908.
Nineteen nations will compete in the women’s tournament in Salou, Nov. 2-9. The five highest-placing teams earn direct qualification for the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championships, to be played in October 2027 in Colorado. That event will serve as the primary global qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Chiappetta’s story started here. She was born and raised in Falls Church and attended Mt. Daniel Elementary School and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. She first picked up a stick as a fourth-grader with the Falls Church Youth Lacrosse Club, then moved through Virginia Metro Lacrosse, Pride Lacrosse and Capital Lacrosse.
“I first learned to play and fell in love with lacrosse in Falls Church,” Chiappetta said. “I learned so many valuable skills then that I still rely on. I’m so grateful for the people and experiences that helped shape me into the player I am today.”
Chiappetta will arrive in Spain with hardware. This July, she helped Italy make history by taking home the gold medal at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Division II in Wroclaw, Poland, the first-ever edition of the event. World Lacrosse named Chiappetta to the 10-player All-Tournament Team, one of three Italians on it.
In the final, Italy knocked off previously unbeaten Mexico, 11-4, avenging a three-goal pool-play loss. Chiappetta and a stifling Italian defense held a Mexican attack that included three of the tournament’s top 20 scorers to four goals. Overall, Italy allowed just 4.6 goals a game, the best mark in the tournament.
Wroclaw wasn’t her first appearance on the world stage. In 2024, Chiappetta played for Italy’s U20 team at the Women’s U20 World Lacrosse Championship in Hong Kong. Italy advanced to the playoff round and finished eighth overall, clinching its spot with an 11-10 win over Scotland in which Chiappetta won seven draw controls and scored a goal.
Chiappetta is a sophomore at the College of the Holy Cross, a Division I program in Worcester, Mass., where she is studying economics. Balancing books and sticks is nothing new. She has done it her entire life, from Falls Church classrooms to the McDonogh School, where she played high school lacrosse and captained the varsity basketball team. Now she does it at the Division I level, with international travel added to the mix.
“It’s important to stay organized, plan ahead, and manage time well,” Chiappetta said. “Having supportive teammates who understand what you’re balancing also helps.”
Fans can watch the Salou games on World Lacrosse TV at tv.worldlacrosse.sport and through the WL TV app.
Closer to home, Arlington pizzeria A Modo Mio will hold an all-day fundraiser on Monday, Nov. 16, to support the Italian women’s lacrosse team and its quest to qualify for the Olympics. The restaurant will donate 20% of proceeds to the team. A Modo Mio, at 5555 Langston Blvd., is owned by the Farruggio family, who hail from Agrigento, Italy. Rosario Farruggio said he is excited to host an event that combines his heritage with a sport so closely associated with his adopted homeland.
