Izzy Scane Enters Rookie Season with Connections New and Old
Izzy Scane has yet to make her Athletes Unlimited Pro Lacrosse debut, but she comes into her rookie season with some interesting connections.
Scane, a six-year star at Northwestern University, finished her college career in the national championship game as the all-time Division I leader in goals scored with 376. She surpassed the previous record of 358, set by Charlotte North of Boston College.
It just so happens that both North and Scane are No. 1 draft picks of AU Pro Lacrosse – North in 2022 and Scane this year.
Because of AU’s unique playing format, in which four captains draft new teams each week, North and Scane may face off against each other some weeks and as teammates other weeks.
Scane is relishing both scenarios.
“She’s just such an incredible player and person, and she’s done so much for our sport, just continued to grow it to levels that hasn’t happened,” Scane said of North. “What she’s been able to do is such a cool thing to watch. And to be even in the same consideration as her is very humbling because of who she is as a player and as a person. I’m definitely honored, and it’s definitely a cool thing to be up there with her. I’m excited to play with and against her at the pro league. It will be really, really fun.”
Scane’s resume is eye-popping. She is a back-to-back winner of the Tewaaraton Award, presented to the top collegiate lacrosse player in the nation. Scane won the award in 2023 when she helped lead the Wildcats to the Division I national championship. She repeated this year after Northwestern reached the title game again, falling to Boston College. That made her one of only six student-athletes to win the Tewaaraton Award multiple times.
She finished her time with the Wildcats ranked second on the NCAA career leaderboard with 483 points.
Life has been a whirlwind for Scane, so she hasn’t had much time to reflect on her historic college career.
“It’s been so busy since it all came to an end,” she said. “It’s one of those things that it’s going to randomly hit you that it’s all over. I think I’ve definitely had a couple of moments like that where it’s just crazy that my time in college is over It was such an incredible experience.
“I grew so much, not only as a person but as a player and as a teammate. I thank Northwestern. I think they made me the best version of myself I could have been. The experiences that I had were just so incredible and life-changing. I definitely wouldn’t change that for the world. Being lucky enough to be successful and win a national championship with my best friends and have some of the accolades is definitely a testament to the people who helped me get there. It’s cool to reflect on and something I’ll continue to look back on for years to come.”
Scane credited Wildcats coach Kelly Amonte Hiller for her part in helping to create a winning culture at Northwestern.
“I think it’s a family,” she said. “I think the really big focus – and I think it’s in the people that Kelly recruited and ended up going to Northwestern – is everyone really cares about the team before they care about themselves. No one had an ego. No one needed to prove themselves. They just wanted to work as hard as possible for the people around them.
“It’s so fun to be around a group of people who are rooting for each other and would do anything for the team. They quickly become your best friends and sisters. To be a part of a culture like that where people really just care about the group more than they do their own wants and desires, it’s a cool thing to work toward an end goal and enjoy each other’s presence. Having those relationships and that kind of culture at Northwestern made my time even better than I could have imagined.”
Speaking of connections, Scane will continue to play with Wildcats teammate Erin Coykendall, who was selected in the AU draft right after Scane. Coykendall and Scane were both drafted to Team Bosco for Week One.
“It’s awesome,” Scane said. “College ended, and we’ve played together for so long, even prior to college. For that to come to an end was such a sad thing. So for us both to be drafted and to go into the league, I’m really happy that I’ll have an opportunity to continue to play with her. She’s an incredible player. She definitely makes me a better player. So whether we’re on the same team or playing against each other, I’m really excited to still be on the field with her and just be in the same place and enjoy being in the same group with her for another year, a summer.”
Considering the history of women’s pro lacrosse, being drafted by AU had Scane feeling flattered.
“We talked about it a little bit,” she said. “It’s crazy. When we were younger, there wasn’t even a pro league to dream about playing pro lacrosse. So to be drafted into the league and be considered one of the players who are at that level is a really cool thing. It’s definitely an honor to be in the same consideration as so many players I’ve gotten to play against and watch do incredible things. It was really exciting and definitely an honor.”
Now that play is set to begin Thursday for the 2024 season, Scane is looking forward to the AU format, which rewards team play and individual accomplishment. She also is eager to take part in AU’s off-the-field initiatives.
“I think the style of play is so fun and unique,” she said. “Mixing up the teams every single week, you kind of get to see how different players play together, how the different styles of the game come out. It’s such an exciting way to play lacrosse at such a high level.
“On top of that, it’s just the way they focus on doing community service and the causes when we do Cause Week and getting to focus on more than just the sport, the bigger picture, and mental health and all the other causes that are important to us. To be a part of that, it seems like such a community. It’s a really exciting thing. I’m excited to get going and to be here.”
It all has her feeling empowered.
“Definitely,” she said. “I think women’s sports is continuing to grow. Being empowered in a way that I get to come into a league like this and be part of a family and a community that’s going to support whatever is important to me, to be a part of something like that is a really cool opportunity. To be a part of a community is definitely something that’s empowering. I was lucky enough to have that experience in college. To have that replicated at such a high level with so many people from all around the country and even the world is a really exciting thing.”
Bruce Miles has covered sports in the Chicago area for 45 years, covering baseball, hockey, football, college and high school sports, and Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball. You can follow him on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.
