It’s one of the most exciting sports in the entire world. It’s also one of the fastest growing.

According to the NCAA, over the last 15 years, men’s and women’s college lacrosse is the fastest growing college sport in America.

However, lacrosse is facing a crisis — a crisis of diversity. Syracuse legend Jim Brown, a Black man, is arguably the greatest lacrosse player of all time. But despite him paving the way for Black lacrosse players across the world, as recently as 2018, just 90 African Americans played college lacrosse compared to nearly 2,700 white players.

At Cornell University, Ashleigh Gundy is just one of the players. For Gundy, she’s used to being one of a few Black players playing lacrosse. In fact, she’s just one of seven Black women playing in the Ivy League.

“There was always a few people of color on the team," Gundy said. "When I came to Cornell, I was the only person of color, so it goes from a small pool to just me by myself. But I definitely think there are other things in my life that have prepared me for that."

And just like practice has prepared Gundy for moves like this, her family has prepared her to take on the challenge of playing lacrosse.

"They always made it seem like I could achieve whatever. Being the only person of color. They inspired me," she said.

And now, Gundy is trying to inspire others. She's a role model for other little Black boys and little Black girls by letting them know that lacrosse is for them too.

"Believing that you can do it, that you can be with your team and your friends and not feel like you are not part of the team or you can truly be successful," she said.

It's a message she hopes resonates with the next generation of lacrosse stars.