Triad Athletes Brings a West Coast Vibe to Girls Lacrosse

David Vick — September 22, 2024

Former Division One athletes and now working moms, Caryl Hall, Erica Jackson, and Grace Saari have a passion for supporting female athletes.

Not only did they all compete at the highest collegiate level, but they also have daughters who now play sports, including lacrosse. Being involved in the sport, the three women saw a need to improve the lifestyle apparel and accessories available to players.

Not ones to sit on the sideline, the women created Triad Athletes in 2021. In doing so, they found inspiration in Roxy, a women’s clothing and accessories brand that focuses on surfing and snowboarding.

“What Roxy did for surfing, we want Triad Athletes to do for girls lacrosse,” Grace Saari said. “We want to bring lacrosse to every female, but you don’t have to play lacrosse to wear our apparel.”

“There is an intent behind every product we launch with a West Coast vibe and to bring a unique point of view that girls and women won’t find elsewhere,” she added.

On a mission to help grow the game, Triad products are uniquely designed with the female lacrosse player in mind. They also offer a style intended to be showcased on and off the field.

Of all their products, the Triad Athletes Custom Aloha Lacrosse Bag might be the most popular. It is a lightweight, wet bag that can be used to store lacrosse and non-lacrosse items.

“The product is incredible, durable, easy to clean, and perfect for athletes, coaches and their female friends, moms, aunts, whoever. My husband even uses an Aloha small pouch to carry his toiletries,” Erica Jackson said.

Another flagship item that Triad offers is a mouth guard. In fact, it is the first marketed mouth guard for female athletes.

“Our mouth guard is athlete approved. Mostly because you can breathe, drink and speak easily with its thin, flexible and narrow channel design,” Grace Saari said.

To create this mouth guard, Triad partnered with a dental accessories manufacturer, so the quality is of the highest standards.

Along with offering lifestyle apparel and accessories, Triad Athletes hosts training sessions. They welcome players from all different school and club teams, ensuring an inclusive environment for all females who want to improve their game.

Triad also hosts two big clinics each year, one in the winter and one in the summer.

“They are so popular and fun because our approach goes beyond technical training. The girls love it,” co-founder Caryl Hall said.

Additionally, Triad partners with Dempsey Arsenault Lacrosse for weekly wall-ball workouts and One Speed Athletes for speed and agility training. Always pursuing their mission to grow the game, these partnerships are extremely beneficial.

“There are amazing leaders in the community that we are grateful to partner with…it takes a village [to grow the game],” Hall said. “We are lucky to have local Division I colleges, like San Diego State University, where the coaches and the athletes are able to coach clinics.”

Triad Athletes has grown considerably since launching three years ago. And while good for business, the interest has been overwhelming at times.

“The direct-to-consumer market is tough when you have limited space and logistics. We can only sell so quickly and invest in quantities that we can handle,” Erica Jackson, who handles Triad’s strategic partnerships, said.

However, all three founders of Triad Athletes are grateful to be making a positive impact in the sport.

To further expand their reach, the company is now looking for wholesale and partnership opportunities. This would allow them to focus more on product development, branding and lifestyle management.

After a successful first three years, they are looking forward to the future.

“Whatever is next for Triad, we know that it will be unique to the market, focused on the female athlete and her love of lacrosse on and off the field,” Jackson said.