Goalie Niamh Pfaff, of Garden City, set to play in World Lacrosse Women's Championship in Tokyo

Growing up, Garden City's Niamh Pfaff played basketball, volleyball, field hockey, tennis, lacrosse, ran track and field, and, starting from age 7, juggled the daily requirements of managing her diabetes. 

On Friday, Pfaff, a 20-year-old rising junior at Yale, will be playing for Team Ireland as a goalkeeper at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo.

Pfaff didn't fully understand how diabetes would impact her life until several years after her diagnosis.

"I had no idea what diabetes even was, I had never heard that word before," she said. ... "It’s definitely something that goes into every little thing you do. There’s constant glucose checking, there’s constant insulin administration, having extra supplies on you, being prepared if your blood sugar spikes high or low."

Pfaff played lacrosse at Garden City High School, going to the New York State Class B state final in 2023.

"Coming from Long Island and from Garden City, the lacrosse culture is huge," she said. "There’s something about the slightly aggressive nature of the sport, having a common goal and practicing with the girls every day that really stuck out to me."

Pfaff credits her choice of becoming a goalie on the lacrosse field to her older brother, who was a goalie throughout high school.

"Playing at such an elite program like Garden City really prepared me," Pfaff said. The change from going to high school to college wasn’t as severe as some other, not as competitive high school programs."

Going into her junior year of high school, Yale University recruited Pfaff to play for its women’s lacrosse team. At Yale, Pfaff is a major in the ethics, politics and economics program.

She was the starting goalie for the Yale Bulldogs in their Ivy League Championship in 2025.

Around that time, she was also trying out for Team Ireland for the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, which runs through Aug. 2 in Tokyo.

Pfaff was granted Irish citizenship last year, saying it was then a "no-brainer" to try out for Team Ireland. At the tryouts, she said, it was gratifying "getting to see all of these other athletes from either Ireland themselves or other high school and college students that had the same connection to their heritage."

Pfaff has always been in touch with her Irish heritage. "My first name, Niamh [which is pronounced "Neev"], is in Gaelic, and I have always thought it was really cool. I grew up Irish step dancing. I’m one of five [siblings]. We would all go on Tuesdays and Thursdays to our step dancing class. I’m also a member of the Irish American Society in Mineola."

While Pfaff hasn't settled on a career yet, she's not ruling out lacrosse.

"Realistically, I’m not sure that you make enough money to support that," she said. "Lacrosse was just approved for the 2028 Olympics, so the ultimate goal is, hopefully if Ireland can qualify, if I’m fortunate enough to make that team again, that’s the ultimate goal."

Yale women’s lacrosse head coach Erica Bamford said of Pfaff, "I don't know that I have met a goalie, and maybe not any player, who is more competitive than Niamh is."

"It’s not fun to lose,” Pfaff said, adding that her drive "comes from having a lot of pride in not only what I do, but being accountable to my teammates. We talk a lot at school about having no neutral impact. You’re either helping or hurting those around you. To be competitive and to bring the energy is holding myself to a high standard for those 30 girls that I share the field with every day."

Pfaff is signed with Dexcom U, the only Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program dedicated to supporting college athletes with diabetes. Pfaff is using that platform to inspire younger athletes who are going through the same struggles that she did.

"I’ve had people message me on the side and say, ‘I saw you’re with Dexcom U and my son was just recently diagnosed and loves basketball’ or whatever it is," she said. "Being able to see that you can make a difference in these kids' lives, it’s really important and it’s something that I definitely looked for and leaned on when I was younger. To now be that next generation is really cool to me."

Aside from winning the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, Pfaff is set on winning another Ivy League title for Yale.

"I want to win the Ivy Tournament and get back to the NCAA Championship," she said. "I have two rings already, so I’d like to go 4 for 4."