PLL Championship Week kicks off Sept. 15 with NYPD-FDNY, PLL and WLL stars playing under blue lights, with free giveaways, an appliance sweepstakes, and more.
New York, NY (PRUnderground) September 14th, 2026
As the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings Championship Week to New York City, Pier 17 will light up on Tuesday, Sept. 15, when the PLL and Whirlpool brand present Lacrosse After Dark: Blue Light Edition, a glowing nighttime event inspired by the appliance brand’s latest laundry innovation, UV Clean Technology. Set against the stunning Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge, the activation will feature NYPD and FDNY lacrosse teams alongside professional athletes from the PLL and Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL).
Fans can attend the free event and put their skills to the test to win prizes, plus a chance to win VIP tickets to the championship game and their own Whirlpool® Front Load Laundry Tower with UV Clean Technology, which reduces bacteria in the wash without requiring high heat or harsh chemicals. As part of the broader collaboration with the NYPD and FDNY, Whirlpool brand will also donate a number of laundry towers with UV Clean to police precincts and firehouses across New York City.
“Whirlpool continues to help us create extraordinary ways to showcase the sport of lacrosse, and this one is especially meaningful,” said Paul Rabil, co-founder and president of the Premier Lacrosse League. “We’re bringing the NYPD, FDNY and the best players in the world together, while Whirlpool’s donation of washers and dryers to precincts and firehouses in NYC will make an impact long after the lights are out.”
Taking place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m, the evening will begin with a special matchup between the NYPD and FDNY lacrosse teams honoring the heroes and spirit of New York City. At 7:30 p.m., the blue lights will turn on for a skills competition featuring PLL and WLL players participating in cross-bar, accuracy and other challenges. Select fans will also have the opportunity to test their skills and compete for prizes. The event will conclude with a high-energy showcase game featuring some of the best professional lacrosse players in the world from the PLL and WLL.
“This collaboration with the Premier Lacrosse League gives us a unique opportunity to showcase UV Clean Technology in a way fans will have to see to believe,” said Morgan LaLonde, Senior Brand Manager at Whirlpool brand. “All while celebrating New York City’s first responders through an event that brings together community, competition and innovation.”
The partnership between the PLL and the Whirlpool brand began in 2023 as the league welcomed its eight teams into home markets. Since then, Whirlpool brand has become the inaugural founding partner of the Maryland Whipsnakes and a founding partner of the Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL). Together, the organizations strive to expand access to the game through community initiatives and equipment restoration, all while creating unexpected lacrosse experiences in iconic locations–including a 2025 event that transformed a boat on the Chicago River into the first-ever floating turf field.
Lacrosse After Dark: Blue Light Edition is part of PLL Championship Week in New York, culminating with the 2026 PLL Championship on Sunday, Sept. 20, featuring the Philadelphia Waterdogs and Denver Outlaws and airing nationally on ABC.
About the Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster is a men’s professional lacrosse league in North America, composed of eight teams rostered by the best players in the world. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the PLL is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, The Chernin Group, Arctos, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Kraft Group, Bolt Capital and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL is distributed through an exclusive media rights agreement with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+. The PLL was named 2023 Best Place to Work in Sports, and 2020 Sports Breakthrough by the Sports Business Journal, and recognized as a 2021 Best Employer in Sports by Front Office Sports. For more on the league, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter (@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague), YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL) and TikTok (@pll).
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.
