Twin lacrosse stars Brinn and Ava Findora changed course. Here’s what led them to Clemson.
The Downingtown West grads were committed to Virginia since their sophomore year, but decided last month to make the switch to Clemson, a program that has made two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Twin star lacrosse players Brinn and Ava Findora are ready to don orange in the fall. It’s just going to be a different shade than they originally expected.
Brinn, the No. 8-ranked recruit in the class of 2026, and Ava, the No. 17-ranked recruit, according to InsideLacrosse, flipped their commitments from Virginia to Clemson on May 19.
“I chose Clemson because our original gut feeling loved Clemson,” Brinn said. “As we got closer to leaving we felt we should go with our original connection and gut instinct, and make a change.”
They made the announcement following their high school season at Downingtown West, which ended in a 13-11 loss to Bishop Shanahan in the first round of District 1 playoffs.
With the Whippets, one of the top-ranked girls’ lacrosse programs in the state, Brinn was named first team all-Ches-Mont three times, while Ava received the same honor for all four years. Brinn also received a USA Lacrosse All-American nod in both 2024 and 2025.
The two grew up playing together: from their club team with NXT LC Girls, Downingtown West, and even for the 2024 USA U16 Selects Team. Playing together in college seemed like the natural next step.
Early in their recruitment process, Brinn and Ava discussed the possibility of a school recruiting one of them, but the hope was to go together.
The midfielders committed to Virginia in September 2024, during their sophomore year. They were deciding among Virginia, Clemson, and then-reigning champions North Carolina.
“We were very obviously grateful for the opportunity we had [with Virginia], but we just were not feeling very good about it,” Ava said. “We just had a sense of uncomfortability with that, and then finally we made the decision very last minute to make that switch.”
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Clemson qualified for this year’s NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history — with its first being last season — but fell to North Carolina in the second round.Virginia did not make the tournament for the first time since 1995.
Clemson beat Virginia, 12-10, when the two teams faced each other in March and finished the season ranked higher nationally than the Cavaliers.
During their initial decision, Ava and Brinn said the location of the school played a factor. Charlottesville, Va., is a about a four-hour drive from their home in Downingtown. Clemson is a plane ride or more than 10 hour drive.
Ava said that the comfort she feels in their decision to play for the Tigers makes the distance worth it. For Brinn, it brings new excitement.
“We have each other, so that’s so helpful,” Brinn said. “I feel like now is the time to go far and find what you love. Going that far and doing what we love is what we’re most excited for.”
Brinn said trusting their gut to make this change was the “best thing” they did, as they now prepare to leave home together. They will become the second set of twins on Clemson’s 2027 roster, joining rising seniors Regan and Blair Byrne.
While it took time to tune out, what Ava called, “outside factors,” and make the decision to change their commitment, she is sharing the same feelings as her sister.
“Leaving for school is obviously a difficult change, it’s a huge change in your life, but I’ve become really excited, and I can’t wait to get down to Clemson,” Ava said.