Undefeated Maryland Claims No. 1 Ranking in USA Lacrosse D-I Women's Top 20

This time two years ago, Maryland was No. 1 in the nation. Well, the Terps are back in that top spot.

Following losses by both North Carolina and Stanford (two losses, actually), Maryland kept its unbeaten start to 2026 alive by squeaking past Penn State to assume the No. 1 ranking in the USA Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20, presented by CWENCH Hydration.

How is Maryland doing it? By winning close games, mostly. And while some of those results could spark mild concern, winning close games is an essential skill come May.  Lauren LaPointe has broken out with 43 goals and 20 assists, while Kristen Shanahan has been a revelation in her first and only year with the Terps.

Add in the continued emergence of JJ Suriano in the cage, and the Terps have a lot to like.

Following its aforementioned loss — a one-goal overtime thriller against Northwestern — North Carolina falls just one spot to No. 2. Syracuse, which has shaken off an 0-3 start, is up to No. 3 on the strength of nine straight wins.

Northwestern, which picked up wins against North Carolina and Johns Hopkins, is up eight spots to No. 5. The only things holding back the Wildcats in the Top 20 are losses to Colorado and Ohio State, but nobody is doubting the on-field capabilities of Northwestern any longer. Rankings are a numbers game and nothing more.

Also notable this week is Boston College, which has had a rocky 2026 but could be peaking after beating Stanford. The Eagles have won four of their last five games but are still just 6-5 with a tough schedule ahead. Finishing the ACC tournament with a .500 record or better is no easy feat — but it's critical to remain eligible for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I
WOMEN’S TOP 20

1. Maryland
2. North Carolina
3. Syracuse
4. Yale
5. Northwestern
6. Michigan
7. Florida
8. Johns Hopkins
9. Navy
10. Stony Brook
11. Stanford
12. Boston College
13. Colorado
14. Clemson
15. Notre Dame
16. Loyola
17. Army
18. Denver
19. Princeton
20. Duke

Also considered (alphabetical order): Georgetown, Ohio State, Penn State, Richmond, Rutgers, South Florida, Villanova, Virginia

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
WOMEN'S TOP 20

There is no change among the top five this week, with Flagler owning the top spot for the fifth straight week, but with league play now underway, we're starting to see more heavyweight matchups.

No. 4 East Stroudsburg defeated No. 9 West Chester to remain undefeated, while Embry-Riddle jumped four spots after taking down then-No. 8 Rollins during a 3-0 week.

Also in Florida, No. 8 Lynn defeated No. 7 Tampa for the first time ever but then lost to No. 2 Florida Southern three days later. Such is life in the Sunshine State Conference.

1. Flagler
2. Florida Southern
3. Slippery Rock
4. East Stroudsburg
5. UIndy
6. Embry-Riddle
7. Tampa
8. Lynn
9. West Chester
10. Maryville
11. Mercy
12. Saint Leo
13. Wingate
14. Rollins
15. Kutztown
16. Rockhurst
17. Pace
18. Dominican (N.Y.)
19. Regis
20. Wilmington (Del.)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Adelphi, McKendree, Mount Olive, Northern Michigan, UVA Wise

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III
WOMEN’S TOP 20

The much-anticipated Middlebury-Tufts matchup did not disappoint, ending in a one-goal game that came down to the wire. The Panthers didn’t lead until just over a minute remaining in the third quarter, but they’d grab the lead for good in the fourth — holding on despite back-to-back goals from Eleanor Helm and Schuyler Lloyd to bring the deficit to one goal with 1:08 remaining — and win its seventh-straight contest against the Jumbos.

Williams entered the Top 20 on the strength of two victories, including one over Scranton.

1. Middlebury
2. Salisbury
3. Wesleyan
4. Tufts
5. William Smith
6. Washington and Lee
7. Denison
8. Amherst
9. Gettysburg
10. York
11. TCNJ
12. Pomona-Pitzer
13. Colby
14. Stevens
15. Rowan
16. MIT
17. Babson
18. Christopher Newport
19. Williams
20. Muhlenberg

Also considered (alphabetical order): Chicago, Colorado College, Franklin & Marshall, Ithaca, Scranton, St. John Fisher