Lee-Whitehead leads Korea to world Olympic qualifier
Former England Box Lacrosse Women’s Assistant Coach Jane Lee-Whitehead has guided Korea as their Head Coach to the final stage of Olympic qualifying after securing a top four finish at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship earlier today.
Korea earned their spot at next year’s World Lacrosse Sixes Championship after a narrow 11-9 victory over New Zealand which sees them progress to the semi-final of the continental qualifier where they’ll take on Australia tomorrow.
Lee-Whitehead, who was appointed Korea Head Coach in June this year, has led her side to four wins from five games at the Asia-Pacific Sixes Championship so far, with the only blemish on their record coming against Japan in the group stage.
Even with that result included, Korea have been fierce in front of goal and tight in defence, scoring 81 and conceding 51 so far.
Just a month after her appointment as Head Coach, Lee-Whitehead led Korea’s field team to a fourth-place finish at the inaugural World Lacrosse Women’s Championship Division II in Wroclaw, Poland after which she was announced as the sixes Head Coach for the Asia-Pacific Championship.
An accomplished athlete, Lee-Whitehead played for Korea from 2012 until 2024 and served as their team captain before turning her hand to coaching, initially while still playing, and the Korea U19 Women’s Head Coach role in 2019.
She was appointed to the World Lacrosse Athletes’ Commission in February 2020 and was re-elected and voted in as its Chair in 2022 where she was a prominent figure in raising the international profile of Korean lacrosse.
In 2024, ahead of that year’s first ever World Lacrosse Women’s Box Championship, Lee-Whitehead was announced as the England Assistant Coach, playing a vital role as the Lionesses finished as the highest European side in fifth.
Domestically in England, Lee-Whitehead has played for Blues winning league, National Club Championship, and BluesFest titles.
Lee-Whitehead has been helped by her team of coaches, including her husband and fellow international player Albert who has featured for England at five major tournaments, winning silverware at the 2022 Euros.
Lee-Whitehead and Korea will now play Australia in tomorrow’s 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship semi-final.
They’ll compete for a spot at the LA28 Olympic Games at the 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championship in Colorado Springs, USA from 4-10 October next year.
2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship Schedule (local times)
Semi-Final | Australia v Korea | Friday 9 October | 17:30
Semi-Final | Japan v Phillipines | Friday 9 October | 19:00
5th Place | Chinese Taipei v New Zealand | Saturday 10 October | 13:00
3rd Place | Australia/Korea v Japan/Phillipines | Saturday 10 October | 14:30
Final | Australia/Korea v Japan/Phillipines | Saturday 10 October | 17:30
For more information about the 2026 Asia-Pacific Sixes Lacrosse Championship, click HERE.