Defending national champion North Carolina has earned the No. 1 ranking in the USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20, presented by CWENCH Hydration. Last season’s national runner-up, Northwestern, is No. 2.
Compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors, the rankings factor input from college coaches.
The Tar Heels return their core from 2025’s undefeated, title-winning team, headlined by Tewaaraton Award winner Chloe Humphrey and several other All-Americans back for a shot at repeating.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, have assembled an impressive supporting cast to go with two-time Tewaaraton finalist Madison Taylor, who set the NCAA single-season goals record (109) last year. Prized transfers Maddie Epke (James Madison), Jenika Cuocco (Drexel), Olivia Adamson (Syracuse) and Annabel Child (Harvard) have joined her in Evanston.
North Carolina’s chief ACC rival, Boston College, comes in at No. 3. The Eagles lost their top three scorers, including Tewaaraton finalist Rachel Clark, but they return All-American goalie Shea Dolce and bring in a talented freshman and transfer portal class that includes one-time rival Marissa White, who transferred from North Carolina over the summer.
Florida also features an elite recruiting class, while bringing back many of its top players from the team that made a return trip to the NCAA semifinals. Reigning Ivy League champ and NCAA quarterfinalist Princeton rounds out the top five.
