Kelly Berger is a former American lacrosse midfielder who made her mark at James Madison University and with Team USA. She was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland, and attended Hammond High School before joining the JMU Dukes. During her college career from 2004 to 2007, she became a two-time All-American and helped lead her team to two CAA Championships and two NCAA appearances. She finished her JMU career with 184 goals, 78 assists, and 262 total points, ranking second in school history in both goals and points. She later played for the U.S. women’s national team and won a world championship in 2009. She is also known for her marriage to lacrosse star Paul Rabil.
Kelly Berger Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Kelly Berger |
| Also Known As | Kelly Rabil (during her marriage) |
| Known For | Former lacrosse star, Team USA player, coach, and fitness entrepreneur |
| Hometown | Columbia, Maryland, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Sport | Women’s lacrosse |
| Position | Midfielder |
| College | James Madison University (JMU) |
| College Years | 2004–2007 |
| College Highlights | 2x All-American, CAA Player of the Year (2006), 184 goals, 78 assists, 262 points |
| Team USA | Yes – U.S. women’s national team |
| World Championship | Won gold with Team USA at the 2009 World Cup |
| Coaching Career | Head coach, UMBC women’s lacrosse (2009–2012); River Hill High School |
| Business Career | Founder of Resistance Fitness and Resistance Cycle |
| Marriage | Married Paul Rabil in 2014 |
| Divorce | Divorced from Paul Rabil in 2017 |
| Ex-Husband | Paul Rabil – lacrosse legend and Premier Lacrosse League co-founder |
| Children | Personal life kept mostly private |
| Hall of Fame | James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame (2017) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Legacy | Inspires athletes in lacrosse, fitness, and entrepreneurship |
Early Life and Family Background
Kelly Berger grew up in Columbia, Maryland, where she developed a love for sports at a young age.
She attended Hammond High School before committing to play lacrosse at James Madison University. She comes from an athletic family. Her brother, Steve Berger, was also a lacrosse player who competed at the collegiate level and later played professionally. Kelly has credited her family for supporting her journey from a young athlete to a national champion. Her early years in Maryland laid the foundation for a career that would take her to the highest levels of women’s lacrosse, including the U.S. national team and multiple world championship appearances.
Education and James Madison Lacrosse Career
Kelly Berger attended James Madison University from 2004 to 2007, where she was a four-year starter for the women’s lacrosse team.
She earned a degree in kinesiology with a concentration in sport management. As a freshman, she ranked third on the team in goals and points and received the team’s Rookie of the Year award. She was named team MVP or co-MVP in each of her sophomore through senior seasons. As a junior in 2006, she earned First Team All-America honors and was named CAA Player of the Year. She finished with 184 goals, 78 assists, and 262 points, ranking among JMU’s all-time leaders.
Kelly Berger’s Rise in U.S. Lacrosse
After graduating from JMU in 2007, Kelly Berger quickly made her mark on the national stage.
She was selected to the U.S. Elite Team in 2007 and later joined the U.S. women’s national team program. Since there were no professional women’s lacrosse leagues at the time, the national team was the highest level of competition for female players. Berger trained year-round, attending camps and international tournaments to earn her spot on the World Cup roster. Her hard work and dedication paid off as she became a key player for Team USA, earning a reputation as one of the top midfielders in the country. She won a world championship with the U.S. team in 2009.
Team USA and Her World Championship Success
Kelly Berger was a proud member of Team USA and achieved the highest honor in international lacrosse by winning a world championship in 2009.
She continued to compete with the national team for over a decade, earning a total of three gold medals with Team USA. She was part of the U.S. national team pool that prepared for the 2013 World Cup and remained involved in the program as a veteran leader. Her commitment to the national team required intense training, including workouts six days a week with a mix of interval training, weights, and long runs. Her success on the world stage cemented her legacy as one of the best American lacrosse players of her generation.
Kelly Berger’s Coaching and Fitness Career
After her playing days, Kelly Berger transitioned into coaching and fitness.
She served as the head coach of the UMBC women’s lacrosse team from 2009 to 2012, leading the Retrievers to the America East Championship game in her first season. She was one of the youngest head coaches in the country at the time. She later coached girls’ lacrosse at River Hill High School. In addition to coaching, Berger built a career in fitness. She founded Resistance Fitness, an online platform, and later opened Resistance Cycle, a fitness studio in Baltimore’s Harbor Point. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pivoted to virtual workouts and scaled her business into an on-demand platform. She is also a mother of two daughters.
Kelly Berger and Paul Rabil’s Marriage
Kelly Berger married Paul Rabil, a professional lacrosse player, in 2014.
The couple were both prominent figures in the lacrosse world, and their marriage drew attention from sports fans and media. Paul Rabil is widely regarded as one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time and is the co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League. The couple tied the knot after dating for some time, and their wedding was a notable event in the lacrosse community. They were married for three years before their separation. Their relationship was often in the spotlight, and their divorce was covered by major entertainment outlets. Despite the end of their marriage, both continued to be influential figures in the sport.
Who is Paul Rabil?
Paul Rabil is a retired American professional lacrosse player, sports executive, and entrepreneur.
He was born on December 14, 1985, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He played college lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University, where he was a four-time All-American and won two NCAA national championships in 2005 and 2007. He was the first overall pick in the 2008 Major League Lacrosse draft and became one of the league’s most dominant players, winning two MLL MVP awards. He is known as lacrosse’s first “million-dollar man” for his endorsement deals. In 2018, he co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League with his brother Mike and retired from playing in 2021. His net worth is estimated at $10 million.
Kelly Berger two daughters
Kelly Berger is a proud mother of two daughters, a role she often describes as one of her greatest joys and motivations.
While she is active on social media and frequently shares glimpses of her life as an entrepreneur, she has chosen to keep her daughters’ names and specific details about them out of the public eye, prioritizing their privacy. In her professional profiles and interviews, she consistently mentions her daughters as a source of inspiration, noting that they keep her “on her toes” while she balances running her fitness business, Resistance Cycle, with motherhood. Her identity as a mom is central to how she presents herself—she often frames her mission of helping others become “stronger, more confident, and more resilient” as something she wants to model for her children as well.
Why Did Kelly Berger and Paul Rabil Divorce?
Kelly Berger and Paul Rabil divorced in 2017 after three years of marriage.
The couple did not publicly share specific reasons for their split, and both have kept details of their divorce private. The divorce was reported by major media outlets, including the Daily Mail and Page Six, which noted that Rabil moved on to date actress Eiza González after the separation. Despite the end of their marriage, both Kelly and Paul have remained active in their respective careers. Kelly has focused on her fitness business and family, while Paul continued his lacrosse career and later built the Premier Lacrosse League. Their divorce marked the end of a high-profile sports marriage but did not diminish their individual successes.
Life After Divorce and Current Career
After her divorce from Paul Rabil in 2017, Kelly Berger focused on rebuilding her life and career.
She poured her energy into her fitness business, Resistance Fitness, which she grew into an on-demand platform. She later opened Resistance Cycle, a brick-and-mortar studio in Baltimore’s Harbor Point, where she offers cycling and strength classes. As a mother of two daughters, she balances entrepreneurship with raising her children. She also remains involved in the lacrosse community through coaching and mentoring. Her journey from elite athlete to successful entrepreneur has been featured on podcasts, where she shares lessons about resilience, adaptation, and the importance of “keeping showing up”.
Kelly Berger’s Influence and Legacy
Kelly Berger’s influence extends far beyond her playing career.
She was inducted into the James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the lacrosse program. Her career as a two-time All-American, world champion, and successful coach has inspired young female athletes across the country. She helped grow the sport of women’s lacrosse at both the collegiate and international levels. As an entrepreneur, she has built a fitness brand that empowers people to become stronger and more confident. Her story of overcoming challenges, from being an unrecruited walk-on to becoming a national champion, serves as a powerful example of determination and resilience.
Net Worth and Financial Insights
Information about Kelly Berger’s personal net worth is limited, as she is a private individual and not a public celebrity in the traditional sense.
Some public records list a net worth of approximately $2.8 million for a Kelly A. Berger in Denver, Colorado, but this may not be the same person. Her income likely comes from her fitness business, Resistance Fitness and Resistance Cycle, as well as her previous coaching roles. As a former national team athlete, she may also earn from speaking engagements and brand partnerships. Her ex-husband, Paul Rabil, has an estimated net worth of $10 million, but their finances are separate. Overall, Kelly Berger has built a solid financial foundation through her diverse career.
Conclusion
Kelly Berger is a remarkable figure in the world of lacrosse. From her days as a standout midfielder at James Madison University to her success with Team USA and her later career as a coach and fitness entrepreneur, she has consistently demonstrated determination and resilience. Her marriage to Paul Rabil brought her additional public attention, but she has built her own legacy through hard work and passion. Today, she is a mother, business owner, and role model who continues to inspire others through her fitness platform and her story of perseverance. Whether on the lacrosse field or in the fitness studio, Kelly Berger has proven that she is a champion in every sense of the word.
Frequently Asked Question
Who is Kelly Berger married to?
Kelly Berger is not currently married. She was previously married to fellow lacrosse player Paul Rabil from 2014 to 2017. The couple divorced in 2017 after three years of marriage. Since then, she has kept her personal life private, and there are no public records confirming a remarriage.
What is Kelly Berger’s net worth?
Kelly Berger’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. While one public record lists a net worth of approximately $2.79 million** for a “Kelly A. Berger” in Denver, Colorado, this may not be the same person.
Where did Kelly Berger go to college?
Kelly Berger attended James Madison University (JMU) from 2004 to 2007. She was a four-year starter for the JMU women’s lacrosse team, where she earned two-time All-American honors and helped lead the Dukes to two CAA Championships and two NCAA appearances. She was inducted into the JMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Who is Paul Rabil’s ex-wife?
Paul Rabil’s ex-wife is Kelly Berger. The two were married from 2014 to 2017 before finalizing their divorce. Kelly Berger is a former All-American lacrosse player at James Madison University and a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
How old is Kelly Berger?
Kelly Berger was born on February 24, 1985, in Columbia, Maryland, which makes her 41 years old as of 2026. She grew up in Maryland and attended Hammond High School before her standout career at James Madison University.
