The Panther City Lacrosse Club were a professional box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They played at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas from their inaugural 2021–2022 season until ceasing operations in 2024.
History On July 22, 2020, the NLL awarded an expansion franchise to the city of Fort Worth and owner Bill Cameron. It was announced that the team would begin play in the 2021–2022 season, with its home arena being Dickies Arena.
At a press conference on November 17, 2020, the franchise officially became the Panther City Lacrosse Club. The team's unique name is in reference to Fort Worth's "Panther City" nickname, which stems from an 1875 article in the Dallas Herald that derisively characterized the city's economy as being so slow that a panther could sleep in the street by the courthouse. Although an intended insult, the name Panther City was enthusiastically embraced by locals after Fort Worth recovered economically. The team is also the league's first and only member to use the "Lacrosse Club" moniker, similar to how teams in the Premier Lacrosse League were named at the time.Panther City Lacrosse Club
On January 25, 2021, former Philadelphia Wings assistant Tracey Kelusky was named the team's first head coach.
Inaugural season
Panther City debuted on December 4, 2021, against the Wings in Philadelphia. Travis Cornwall scored the first goal in franchise history as Panther City took a 1–0 lead. Despite leading 7–4 at halftime, the team could not start 1–0 as they fell to the Wings, 12–11 in overtime.Panther City Lacrosse Club falls 12–11 to Wings in franchise opener A week later on December 10, the franchise played its first ever home game at Dickies Arena, where they fell to the Vancouver Warriors, 14–8 in front of 7,309 fans.Panther City loses first home game After five games, Panther City got their first franchise win on January 15, 2022, on Long Island against the New York Riptide, 13–12 thanks to an overtime goal from rookie forward Patrick Dodds.Panther City Lacrosse Club defeats New York Riptide, 13–12 It took a month and a half and four more tries, but Panther City notched their second win and first ever home win on February 26, 11–10, in a rematch with the Warriors in front of 4,714 fans. Again it would be Patrick Dodds providing late-game heroics with a goal with 39 seconds remaining.Panther City hangs on for first home win The next week, Panther City collected a consecutive win for the first time, and set a franchise record for goals scored with a 17–16 home overtime win over the Saskatchewan Rush.Malcom scores five times as Panther City edges Saskatchewan Rush, 17–16 in OT
The streak would eventually climb to five games, catapulting the team back to the playoff race with a 6–8 record.Panther City slays Mammoth, 10–6 Panther City would hang in there until the penultimate week of the regular season when they lost to the Georgia Swarm. A home loss to Saskatchewan closed out the year, though Panther City still posted the best inaugural season record by an expansion team since the San Diego Seals in 2018–19.
Cessation of operations On August 30, 2024, the NLL announced that Panther City would cease operations effective immediately.
Season-by-season record +SeasonConferenceWL%FinishHomeAwayGFGACoachPlayoffs2022Western711.3895th3–64–5190223Tracey KeluskyDid not qualify2023Western108.556 3rd6–34–5204193Tracey KeluskyLost Western Conference Semi-Final2024Unified99.5007th5–44–5205202Tracey KeluskyLost QuarterfinalsTotal3 Seasons2628.48114–1312–155996181 Head Coach0 ChampionshipsPlayoff Totals2 Appearances02.0000–00–21721
Playoff results +SeasonGameVisitingHome2023Western Conference Semi-FinalPanther City 9Calgary 122024QuarterfinalsPanther City 8San Diego 9 OT
Awards and honors +YearPlayerAward2022Tracey KeluskyLes Bartley AwardJeremy ThompsonTeammate of the Year Award2023Jonathan DonvilleRookie of the Year
Draft history
NLL Entry Draft First Round Selections
2021: Jonathan Donville (1st overall), Nathan Grenon (11th overall) 2022: Jason Knox (5th overall), Mathieu Gautier (9th overall), Colton Lidstone (21st overall) 2023: None
References
External links