Ella Simkins

Personal: Simkins majored in Intercollegiate Advising and Support at Syracuse. She has one brother and one sister, with her younger sister, Hallie, also playing lacrosse at Syracuse. Simkins currently serves as an assistant coach for the Army women's lacrosse team, alongside Athletes Unlimited goalkeeper Caylee Waters, former Athletes Unlimited attacker Katrina Dowd, and former Athletes Unlimited midfielder Michelle Tumolo.

2022 Season: Simkins started all 12 games and earned 1,001 leaderboard points. She recorded 15 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Simkins scored her only goal of the season in the Week Two opener against Team Johansen, where she also collected three ground balls. She had another strong performance in the Week Two finale against Team Arsenault, with three ground balls. Simkins posted two caused turnovers in games against Team Glynn and Team Johansen.

2021 Season: Simkins earned 1,102 leaderboard points and had two games with 100 or more points. She led all Athletes Unlimited defenders with three goals and ranked fourth in the league with 14 caused turnovers. Simkins finished eighth in Athletes Unlimited with 30 draw controls. Her season high came in the Week Two finale against Team Arsenault, where she scored 183 points and had three ground balls and three caused turnovers. She started the season strong with eight draw controls against Team O'Donnell. Simkins recorded at least one caused turnover in 10 out of 15 games. She was one of 13 players selected in the Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse College Draft.

International Experience: Simkins has also represented Team USA, playing in the 2021 USA Lacrosse Fall Classic and being a member of the training team for the 2022 World Championship squad.

At Syracuse: Simkins played for Syracuse University for five years. She started 69 out of 74 games with the Orange from 2017-2021. Simkins scored one goal and had six assists during her career. She also recorded 121 ground balls, 138 draw controls, and 87 caused turnovers, which rank third in program history. In 2021, Simkins was named a First-Team IWLCA All-Region selection and earned Second-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition. She was also an Honorable Mention selection for the IWLCA All-America Team and received Third-Team All-America status from Inside Lacrosse. Simkins holds the Syracuse single-season record with 35 caused turnovers during the 2021 campaign. She was part of the Syracuse team that led NCAA Division I in scoring defense in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.