Way-Early 2026 Division I Women's Rankings: 25-21

And alas, the era of COVID-related "extra" years is largely gone. The transfer era, though, does not seem to be going anywhere.

That makes our annual Way-Too-Early Top 25 exercise a worthwhile one. Catching up on the impactful transfer action and seeing how teams are reloading following graduation losses sets the stage for the fall, which will somehow be here before you know it.

First up, Nos. 25-21 — five teams with something to prove.

25. Brown

2025 Record: 10-7 (4-3 Ivy League)

Last seen: Playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history but falling to Syracuse in round one, 15-9, in New Haven.

Notable departures: Annie Burton, M; Leah Caputo, A; Carly Camphausen, M; Greta Criqui, A; Avery Doran, A; Maddie Joyce, M; Paige Gillen, D

Notable additions: Kayla Davi, M; Mackenzie Farley, M, Isabella Keyes, A

Initial forecast: Brown made significant strides in year two of the Katrina Dowd era, taking Ivy League top seed Princeton to the brink in a 17-16 Ivy semifinal loss and earning an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament.

But the Bears will undergo a roster overhaul in 2026. Much of their offense is gone, including leaders Annie Burton (17G, 57A) and Greta Criqui (51G, 12A). They graduated, but Avery Doran, who produced 23 goals and 24 assists during her freshman season, has entered the portal. Other notable departures include do-it-all middie Maddie Joyce (28G, 5A, 15CT, 25DC) and defender Paige Gillen (31DC, 13CT).

Still, the Bears will return some key contributors. Rising junior Beth Anderson (16G, 12A, 86DC) could play a larger offensive role and is already key on the circle. Starting goalie Claire Mahoney (9.37GAA, .451SV%), who anchored Division I’s 20th-ranked scoring defense, is also back. Once again, Mahoney will have rising junior Codi Johnson (19DC, 18CT) in front of her.

Dowd will also put her stamp on the program, welcoming more of her recruits as she seeks to turn Brown into a contender in an Ivy League dominated by Princeton, Penn, and (recently) Yale.

24. James Madison

2025 Record: 14-5 (6-0 AAC)

Last seen: Bowing of the NCAA tournament in a 17-10 first-round loss to Duke.

Notable departures: Caitlin Boden, G; Savannah Derey, A; Maddie Epke, A;  Adanya Moyer, G

Notable additions: Juliana Ceresi, M; Grace Gordon, D (George Washington); Grayson Anne McCurdy, M; Lily Peek, A; Jolie Schiavo, M;

Initial forecast: Without Florida in the way, James Madison rolled to its first American Athletic Conference crown. A swift exit against Duke in the NCAA tournament wasn’t the only spring departure from Harrisonburg. Maddie Epke, who corralled a school-record 235 draw controls last season, entered the portal and is now at Northwestern. Epke was also JMU’s leading scorer with 88 points, including 65 goals. Savanah Derey (54G, 6A) graduated.

In short, expect a “swift” rise up the depth chart from some of James Madison’s young talent. Olivia Matthews (31G, 13A, 33DC) now stands to take on leadership roles on attack and in the circle. Classmate Payton Root, who tallied 11 goals and 29 assists in 15 games, will also likely see more time, and junior midfielder Brianna Mennella (25G, 13A) provides experience and a scoring threat.

Goalie Adayna Moyer graduated, and her primary backup, Caitlin Boden, transferred to Maryland. That currently leaves underclassmen goalies Emily Evans and Abigail Beattle, who combined to appear in five games last year.

Rising sophomore Reese Cuviello (42DC, 22CT, 22GB) should provide stability on defense, where JMU will get an additional boost from George Washington transfer Grace Gordon (35GB, 14CT, 57DC in two years). And history often repeats itself: James Madison’s zone defense generally finds a way to frustrate opposing offenses, regardless of personnel. 

23. USC

2025 Record: 10-7 (3-5 Big Ten)

Last seen: Concluding its first year in the Big Ten with a 20-9 loss to Michigan in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

Notable departures: Maddie Dora, A; Christina Gagnon, M; Catherine Lord, D; Lila Murray, D; Alexis Niblock, D; Isabelle Vitale, A

Notable additions: Addison Carey, M; Addie Crowley, D; Francesca Garcia, A (San Diego State); Summer Glenday, D; Jenna Lundstedt, M; Eleanor Thomas, G (New Hampshire); Riley Vasile, M

Initial forecast: A perennial favorite in the Pac-12, USC ran into stiffer competition in the Big Ten. The Women of Troy will give it another go in 2026, albeit with a different look. Longtime offensive quarterback Isabelle Vitale (30G, 45A) and leading goal scorer Maddie Dora (64G, 6A) have run out of eligibility.

Some of the most significant changes are on the defensive end, where stalwarts Catherine Lord, Lila Murray and Alexis Niblock will need to be replaced. Head coach Lindsey Munday will bring in a bevy of freshmen who could see immediate time in four-star recruits Summer Glenday, a disruptive defender out of Darien (Conn.), and Addie Crowley from New Canaan (Conn.).

Additionally, the Trojans will gain depth at the goalie position from New Hampshire transfer Eleanor Thomas, who stopped shots at a 40.9-percent clip last season. Starting goalie Annie Shields (9.64 GAA, .440 SV%) also returns.

Offensively, Francesca Garcia continues her collegiate journey through Southern California, transferring to USC from San Diego State, where she tallied 66 goals in three seasons. She’ll join returning threats like Emma Bunting (22G, 18A) and Kaylee Fravert (23G).

22. Harvard

2025 Record: 9-6 (3-4 Ivy League)

Last seen: On Selection Sunday graphics as one of the last teams left out of the NCAA tournament. The Crimson won their final regular season game against Columbia but did not qualify for the Ivy League tournament in what was likely the deciding blow to their chance to dance.

Notable departures: Anna Andrews, D; Annabel Child, D; Lizzie Francioli, G; Charlie Meier, M; Caroline Mullahy, A, Grace Taylor, D

Notable additions: Cece Batchelder, M; Alexandra Koch, M; Emerson Midura, M; Natalie Marvin, M

Initial forecast: Harvard figures to be one of the more interesting cases entering the 2026 season. The Crimson lose big contributors like points leader Caroline Mullahy (23G, 49A), starting goalie Lizzie Francioli (9.41 GAA, .466SV%) and top defender Annabel Child (the latest Ivy Leaguer to head to Northwestern).

Yet the Crimson also return significant talent (while Ivy rivals Penn and Yale lose much more). Charlotte Hodgson led Harvard in goals (30) and draws (101), and rising junior Callie Batchelder (24G, 19A) represents another veteran poised for a larger role following the departure of Caroline Mullahy. However, another Mullahy — Grace (24G, 11A), and yes, they are sisters — is entering her junior season.

Equally interesting will be how head coach Devon Wills integrates a talented freshman class, headlined by five-star recruit Emerson Midura. An explosive dodger who chose Harvard over other Ancient Eight members Yale and Princeton, Midura has a knack for creating lanes where none exist. Plus she boasts a high lacrosse IQ for her age.

21. Penn State

2025 Record: 7-9 (5-3 Big Ten)

Last seen: Losing to Johns Hopkins 13-8 in what proved to be the final game of Missy Doherty’s 15-year tenure in Happy Valley. She resigned after the season, and Kayla Treanor left her alma mater, Syracuse, to take over.

Notable departures: Kate Dougherty, D; Ellie Holin, D; Brooke Hoss, A; Lauren Saltz, M Notable additions: Rocquette Allen, A; Sarah Anne, M; Anna Mellinger

Initial forecast: It’s a new era in Happy Valley, and frankly, it’s way too early even to gauge Penn State through a “way-too-early” lens. Recruits are still flipping, deciding whether to follow Kayla Treanor from Syracuse or stay in Salt City for the Regy Thorpe era. Four-star attacker Rocquette Allen will head to Penn State, not Syracuse, this fall (and goalie Reagan O’Donovan will join her, but for the 2027 season). Things will settle and become clearer as Penn State hits the field in the fall and during winter practices.

What we do know is this: Penn State lost significant talent entering 2025 but got stronger toward the end of the year. The Nittany Lions won five straight beginning in March, upending Oregon, Michigan, Rutgers, Ohio State and USC before falling by only one goal in overtime to Johns Hopkins in the regular-season finale. The most significant loss is defensive stalwart Ellie Holin, but much of last year’s talent returns, including leading scorer Erika Ho (46G, 10A, 112DC) and Kelly MacKinney (12G, 37A). Starting goalie Sydney Manning also returns.

How all these players fit into Treanor’s system remains to be seen, but the coaching change and experience playing together could help PSU build off 2025’s late-spring momentum and see an uptick in wins in 2026.