5 Questions Before the 2026 Women’s Division II Season Launches

The big kickoff to the NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse season is this weekend — and we have some questions as we anxiously await for the spring to unfold.

1. Can Tampa become the first three-peat champion since 2011?

The past two seasons in NCAA Division II women's lacrosse have ended the same way — with Tampa topping Adelphi in the NCAA title game. As the two-time defending champion, Tampa can become the first team to win three straight titles in 15 years if it is once again the last team standing on May 23 in Rochester, N.Y., site of the final four.

Coach Kelly Gallgher said that her veteran squad, led by returning All-Americans Peyton Howell, Isabella Avila and Savvy Barbosa, is ready for the challenge.

“Our players take a lot of ownership in this program, and they want to do something that hasn’t been done in quite a while,” Gallagher said. “They are really process-focused, and they know it won’t happen without working hard every day. But they’re in a good place, and they are ready to go.”

2. Will the rise continue in Florida?

Part of the difficulty in a Tampa three-peat in 2026 is the emergence of strong contenders within its own state lines. The USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20 features four Florida teams ranked in the top 10 and six overall. The depth of quality teams, specifically in the Sunshine State Conference, and more generally across the South Region, has never been deeper.

Florida Southern, national champion in 2016 and runner-up in 2017 and 2018, lost just three games last year — all to Tampa. SSC teams Embry-Riddle and Lynn also earned NCAA tournament berths, while Gulf South champion Flagler has become a consistent postseason challenger.  

“The standard is Florida,” Flagler coach Grant Kelam said. “That’s very apparent now.”

3. Is Slippery Rock here to stay?

The Rock enjoyed a historic 2025 with a program-record 18 wins and a 10-0 record in the PSAC West. Slippery Rock not only earned its first NCAA tournament appearance but also advanced to the national semifinals after winning its first Atlantic Region title.

With 33 victories over the past two seasons, it can’t be called Cinderella any longer, but will the Rock become a perennial postseason contender? An early season matchup on Feb. 21 against PSAC East powerhouse and fourth-ranked West Chester should provide some clarity.
“Pressure is a privilege,” coach Taryn Burkholder said.

4. Is there a 2026 dark horse?

Two of last year’s final four teams were not realistically on anyone’s postseason radar at the start of the season. UIndy was ranked 16th in the preseason, while Slippery Rock was not even in the Top 20, relegated to the ranks of the “also considered.’” Both teams, though, emerged as championship contenders. Are there similar teams lurking in the shadows as the 2026 campaign kicks off?

One possibility might be No. 13 East Stroudsburg, which boasts an All-American attacker in Sadie Kauffman and an All-American goalie in Abby Simonetti. Another possibility is No. 15 Grand Valley State, which has won 49 games over the past three seasons and knows how to navigate the postseason gauntlet, demonstrated by its run to the national semifinals in 2023. Four straight games against ranked opponents to start the season could help trigger another Lakers run.

5. What are some of the early season non-conference games to watch?

Every year, big early season matchups help to provide a glimpse of what might develop through the rest of the spring. Coaches schedule games against strong opponents to see how their teams stack up.

What weaknesses will get exposed, and what improvements will be needed to contend for a league title?

Impact-making newcomers, both freshmen and transfers, emerge against solid competition. Based on the early results, fans and observers also have a chance to identify the teams they believe to be true contenders.

Last year, the top seven teams in the Sunshine State Conference combined for a 49-1 record against out-of-state opponents through February and March. It wasn’t hard to see that the SSC was going to be a tough out in the postseason.

As the 2026 campaign kicks off, we’ve identified several early season games to watch:

Feb. 14 — No. 1 Tampa at No. 9 UIndy
Feb. 20 — No. 2 Adelphi at No. 10 Lynn 
Feb. 20 — No. 7 Maryville at No. 14 Regis
Feb. 21 — No. 3 Fla. Southern vs UIndy 
Feb. 28 — No. 4 West Chester at No. 2 Adelphi
March 7 — West Chester at No. 8 Pace
March 9 — Tampa at Pace
March 18 — No. 6 Embry-Riddle vs. No. 12 Flagler