South Windsor Police Officer Shines At World Lacrosse Championship

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw was back on the job as a South Windsor police officer this week, but was still glowing about her experience at the 2026 Women's World Lacrosse Championship.

Officer Rodriguez-Shaw wears badge No. 226 at the SWPD, and was sporting No. 11 for Puerto Rico in the tournament in Tokyo, Japan.

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Puerto Rico finished eighth in the 16-team tournament after going 2-1 in pool play and fell to the eventual gold-medal winning U.S. team in the quarterfinals.

"We had a good tournament," Rodriguez-Shaw said. "Puerto Rico was 11th in 2022, and that's a really good improvement. No one was beating the U.S. team."

Rodriguez-Shaw scored 11 goals in the tournament, comparable to U.S superstars Madison Taylor (16) and Chloe Humphrey (14). Rodriguez-Shaw was eligible to play for the. Puerto Rico squad because of lineage — her grandfather.

Travel complications forced the tam to arrive literally on top of its first practice and a scrimmage with Germany, but things quickly came together.

"The field (a very close-cut artificial surface more akin to field hockey) was tough to play on an it was very hot. We had to stay super-hydrated," Rodriguez-Shaw said. "But I think I played well, the team played well and it was a lot of fun. We now know we can compete with the top teams and are heading in the right direction. "

The field comment was by no means a complaint about the host nation.

"Oh my God ... Japan is so cool, especially Tokyo by itself," she said. "If you have a chance to go, do it. Our hotel was right at a train station so we were able to go where we wanted to go."

Rodriguez-Shaw is no stranger to women's lacrosse at a high level. She was a standout attacker at Duquesne University then at the University of Massachusetts after playing as a youth in the accomplished Longmeadow, MA, program and then at Massachusetts powerhouse Longmeadow High School.

In her college career, Rodriguez-Shaw scored 164 goals in 69 games while recording 64 assists. She scored 31 goals on her 64 free position attempts.

She accumulated 67 ground balls and 111 draw controls.

Up next for Rodriguez-Shaw and the team is getting ready for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Olympic format will be "sixes," which is popular in the U.S. during the indoor season. The field consists of a goalie and five field players with no restraining line. Emphasis is on quick and accurate goalie clears and fast-breaking offense.

The pace can be likened to pinball.

It kind of fits the game of Rodriguez-Shaw perfectly.

"Sixes, compared to full field isa massive change to the game, but I honestly love it," Rodriguez-Shaw said. "It's fast, aggressive and will be easier for spectators to understand. I think it will be the perfect addition to the 2028 Olympics, especially being a new sport. where people will enjoy the competition and the high level of play."

And it's also, of course, about being one of South Windsor's finest.

"I love it," she said about being on the job at the SWPD. "It's definitely most rewarding and I like the role of dealing with things most people my age don't deal with."