Dana Dobbie, an icon of international women's lacrosse and a Loyola University Maryland women's lacrosse assistant coach, was named the recipient of the prestigious Wes Patterson Award following the conclusion of the 2022 Women's Lacrosse World Championships this summer. 
 
The award - named in honor of a longtime friend to lacrosse, Wes Patterson - is presented to the individual who best embodies the 'Spirit of the Game' and has displayed qualities of sportsmanship both on and off the field of play. The individual has also displayed team cooperation and contribution, unselfish play, fairness and generosity, courtesy in her relations with others, and is one who accepts the results of the game and the decision of officials. 
 
"Dana is an inclusive person," President of World Lacrosse Sue Redfern said. "At the end of every match, she spends time talking to the opposition by calling out their successes and encouraging them if they have lost. She includes administrators, such as myself, and calls us out to athletes as people who contribute to their game and events. She is well recognized around the world."
 
Dobbie, who serves as the Vice Chair of the World Lacrosse Athletes Commission, is considered to be one of the leading ambassadors of the sport. Not only has the Fergus, Ontario native represented Team Canada through one junior World Championship, four Senior World Championships and two World Games, but she's been a four-time All-World Team selection as a player. She's captained the Canadians to two bronze, four silver and one gold medal in international competition, including a third-straight silver medal at the 2022 World Championships in Towson, Maryland, and the country's first-ever gold medal at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, this summer. 
 
"To receive the Wes Patterson Award is an incredible honor," Dobbie said. "Lacrosse has gifted me so many incredible friends, coaches, competitors and mentors. I don't think I can even begin to repay the sport back for all that it has given me, but I'll never stop trying! I'm so grateful and appreciative for all World Lacrosse has done and continues to do to grow this sport."
 
Dobbie's impact off the field may be some of her most significant work, as the lacrosse world has expanded exponentially since her first international tour in 2009. A frequent clinician at events around the world, Dobbie's efforts to connect the lacrosse community are well recognized among the member nations. 
 
As a member of the World Lacrosse Blue Skies Working Group, Dobbie is part of an international group that's responsible for examining innovative ways to best position the sport of lacrosse for continued growth in the 21st century, including the long-term ambition of returning lacrosse to the Olympic Games. So far, they've developed a new discipline, called Sixes, which debuted at the 2022 World Games. Last weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, Dobbie captained the Canadians to the first-ever gold medal in the discipline. She's now advocating for the inclusion of a women's box lacrosse world championship to be held. 
 
"Dana's contribution on our World Lacrosse Working Group for Women's Box Lacrosse has been outstanding," Redfern shared. "It's largely due to her that World Lacrosse is aiming to run our first-ever Women's Box World Championship alongside the Men's Box World Championships in 2024. She is articulate, thoughtful, passionate and a joy to have in the lacrosse community. She is an example and an inspiration to both current and future generations."
 
Dobbie's contributions expand beyond just playing, as she's mentored and inspired youth, collegiate and international players alike. Since coming to Loyola with head coach Jen Adams – who's highly regarded as the finest female lacrosse player of all time – Dobbie has helped the Greyhounds' women's lacrosse program back to national prominence. Her and Adams have led the program to a 190-70 overall record in 14 seasons, including an NCAA record for consecutive conference games won with a perfect 66-0 record in Patriot League play. Together, they've won eight conference championships and advanced to 10 NCAA Tournaments, where they've made four appearances in the quarterfinal round. 
 
She's also coached 25 IWLCA All-Americans, 62 regional All-Americans, 26 conference players of the year and 91 all-conference performers, while her players have rewritten Loyola's record book for draw controls, a discipline Dobbie mastered as a two-time All-American and Tewaaraton Award finalist at Maryland.
 
"There is no one who pours more heart and soul into this sport than Dana," said Adams, a two-time World Cup gold medalist and two-time All-World performer for Australia. "She works tirelessly to safeguard and make sure the next generation of young lacrosse players will have the absolute best experience playing the sport they love. It's amazing to see the way she shrinks the world of lacrosse by connecting people through her passion, generosity, respect and friendship. The Wes Patterson is such a prestigious award and Dana is extremely worthy of having her name etched amongst the world's greatest."
 
Dobbie was presented with the Wes Patterson Award following the conclusion of the 2022 World Lacrosse Women's World Championships in Towson, Maryland.