USA Lacrosse is pouring $1 million into Texas over the next three years, betting the state can become a national lacrosse powerhouse before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The organization announced the Texas Lacrosse Growth Fund on July 29, a three-year initiative targeting youth participation through school physical education programs, coach and official training, and new boys' and girls' high school teams statewide. Marc Riccio, president and CEO of USA Lacrosse, called Texas "one of the fastest growing lacrosse markets in the country" in the announcement.

The investment lands in a state reshaped by migration. Texas added 391,243 residents in 2025, the most of any state, bringing its population to 31.7 million, the Texas Tribune reported in January. Since 2020, the state has gained roughly 2.6 million people, with more than two-thirds moving from elsewhere in the country or abroad, the Texas Tribune reported. The South as a region grew 6.0% over that span, nearly double the national rate of 3.1%, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released June 25.

Many of those newcomers brought their sports with them. The Caledonian, The Woodlands High School's student newspaper, profiled three local athletes on Thursday, Sept. 24, who compete in lacrosse, rugby and hockey.

Nolan Naughton, a class of 2029 goalie on The Woodlands Varsity lacrosse team and the West Coast Starz 2029 travel team, told the paper the coaching pipeline is driving the sport's rise.

"It's been big, mostly due to lots of former professional and college players coming back to coach, and it's showing through commitments and success from Western and Southern teams," Naughton said.

Tucker Allbritton, a class of 2029 rugby and football player at The Woodlands High School, told The Caledonian that rugby participation in The Woodlands is climbing and that the skills transfer between the two sports. He described bonds formed outside of school as one of rugby's biggest draws.

The pipeline starts younger than high school. Nolan Skrien, a class of 2036 player, is already playing hockey in The Woodlands area. His father, a Minnesota native, introduced him to the sport.

Local infrastructure is keeping pace. Alden Bridge Sports Park, used by lacrosse, rugby and softball programs, was undergoing renovations and upgrades earlier in 2026, according to a Hello Woodlands community post. The USA Lacrosse fund's $1 million goal will support programs across the state through 2029.