Way-Early 2027 Rankings: No. 10-No. 6 (Division I Women)

It’s time to look ahead 2027, even if next season’s first lacrosse game is six months away.

USA Lacrosse Magazine will spend the week counting down from No. 25 to No. 1 in our way-early rankings for the 2027 NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse season, continuing with several final four sleepers — a few of which have been there before.

Way-Early 2027 Rankings
25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1

10. Florida  

2026 record: 15-4 (5-0 Big 12)

Last seen: Getting upended by Denver 16-8 in the first round of the NCAA tournament

Notable departures: Theresa Bragg, D; Kaitlyn Davies, M; Jenny Woodings, D; Susan Radebaugh, G (Ohio State); Maya Soskin, G (Syracuse)

Notable additions: Maria Bragg, M; Kate DeWald, A; Emma Jean Greenberg, D; Gabi Johnson, M; Alexa Lang, G (South Florida); Colleen Lordon, D; Ava Obloj, M; Emma Speed, A; Anna Von Kennel, M

Initial forecast: The future starts this fall in Gainesville, as the Gators welcome in a lauded freshman class that includes six five-star recruits. One of the top midfielders entering Division I in 2027, Maria Bragg, is a solid 1v1 defender who can dodge, while fellow midfielder Anna Von Kennel is fast and explosive. Ava Obloj adds a quick first step, and Kate DeWald will bring a lefty presence to the attack — ditto for Emma Speed, a four-star recruit out of Long Island. Another four-star add, Gabi Johnson, is speedy and agile.

The group will join a talented attack and midfield that includes 2026’s top scorers Frannie Hahn (33 goals, 38 assists), Clark Hamilton (57 goals, 13 assists) and Gabbi Koury (30 goals, 11 assists, 46 draw controls). Koury may need to have a larger presence on draw controls this year, without Jenny Woodings (87 draw controls) and Kaityln Davies (38 draw controls, 31 goals, 10 assists). The Gators will also miss Woodings and Theresa Bragg (19 caused turnovers, 20 ground balls) on defense. But the defense does return Ashley Dyer (15 caused turnovers, 18 ground balls) and Sam Hughes (15 caused turnovers, 18 ground balls).

The net is an open question with Susan Radebaugh and Maya Soskin transferring. Paige Crowther graduated. Currently, the Gators have one goalie on their 2027 roster, Alexa Lang, a transfer from South Florida who did not see time last year but was selected to play for the Mexican national team at the world championships.

9. Johns Hopkins  

2026 record: 17-5 (6-2 Big Ten)

Last seen: Mounting a head-spinning comeback to beat Stony Brook at the buzzer and advance to its first-ever Division I final four, where the Blue Jays came up short in a 16-11 loss to eventual champion Northwestern

Notable departures: Ava Angello, A; Morgan Giardina, GK (Michigan); Hannah Johnson, D; Jillian McNaughton, D (South Florida); Reagan O’Brien, D

Notable additions: Kylee Mellott, GK

Initial forecast: The Blue Jays made program history in 2026, and look to 2027 with a balance of holes to fill and veteran talent returning. Ava Angello scored a team-high 81 goals and ranked ninth in Division I in goals per game (3.68). That output will be hard to replace, but Hopkins does bring back its next three leading goal scorers in do-it-all Lacey Downey (58 goals, 47 assists, 47 draw controls, 74 ground balls, 51 caused turnovers), Taylor Hoss (47 goals, 60 assists) and Paige Willard (42 goals, 12 assists).

Downey is a presence on the circle, where Laurel Gonzalez carried much of the load at center last year, pacing Hopkins with 154 draw controls.

But Downey’s prowess will also arguably be most needed on defense, where the Jays are without three starters, most notably Reagan O’Brien (88 caused turnovers, 72 ground balls). Goalie-wise, Ashley Langdon, last year’s starter, is back, and the Jays add four-star recruit Kylee Mellott out of Avon Grove (Pa.).

8. Michigan  

2026 record: 13-7 (5-3 Big Ten)

Last seen: On the unfortunate end of a 13-12 loss to Stanford in the NCAA tournament’s second round

Notable departures: Grace Callahan, D; Ava Class, A; Taylor Cullen, D; Jordyn Harrison, D; Calli Norris, A; Peyton Shreves, M; Ceci Stein, A

Notable additions: Julie Shaughnessy, A; Ellie Kaplan, M; Ella Gould, M; Abbie Rattay, M; Molly Dougherty, M; Caroline Condon, M; Catherine McBride, M

Initial forecast: Rising senior attacker Emma Bradbury (51 goals, 19 assists, 178 draw controls) and rising sophomore goalie Elizabeth Johnson (9.03 goals against average, 48.0% save percentage) headline Michigan’s returners. But make no mistake: Big Blue has key spots open.

For starters, the Wolverines lose three of their top five goal scorers in Calli Norris (52 goals, 15 assists, 40 draw controls), Ava Class (30 goals, 27 assists) and Ceci Stein (21 goals, 14 assists). Starting defenders Grace Callahan, Taylor Cullen and Jordyn Harrison, plus defensive-minded midfielders Peyton Shreves, also exited.

The good news for Michigan? Multiple top-flight freshmen are coming to Ann Arbor. All of the notable additions are considered five or four-star recruits by Inside Lacrosse. A speedy, smooth-dodging attacker, Julie Shaughnessy headlines the class. Midfielders Ella Gould and Ellie Kaplan are known for their high IQs.

Michigan is always tough, and Hannah Nielsen gets the most out of her players — how quickly this group can adjust to the nation’s toughest competition in the Big Ten is something to watch.

7. Boston College

2026 record: 10-8 (6-4 ACC)

Last seen: Losing to Stony Brook 10-9 in the second round of the NCAA tournament, ending its final four streak at eight straight appearances.

Notable departures: Shea Baker, D; Hanna Davis, D (Syracuse); Shea Dolce, GK; Abbey Herod, M; Michaela O’Connor, D

Notable additions: Caitlin Barnes, M; Hannah Barron, M (USC); Sydney DeMaio, A; Ava Fossati, M; Taylor Gordon, M; Maeve Magarity, G; Keira McHugh, M; Lilly Schwing, D; Natalie Shurtleff, Gr. (Clemson); Caroline Trinkaus, A (Syracuse)

Initial forecast: Boston College struggled to find its rhythm offensively with Rachel Clark and Emma LaPinto gone in 2026 and uncharacteristically missed the national semifinals. (Yes, we realize the ridiculousness of implying that anything short of a final four appearance is “uncharacteristic” for a program, but that’s the tradition BC has built.) But the Eagles will have more experience playing together as they flip the page to 2027.

As fall approaches, most of their offensive leaders return, a difference from last season. Molly Driscoll (32 goals, 23 assists), Giulia Colarusso (40 goals, 12 assists), Marisa White (40 goals, 10 assists) and Kylee Colbert (38 goals, seven assists) are back. BC also will get a lift from tranfers Natalie Shurtleff (43 goals, 17 assists, 68 draw controls) out of Clemson and Caroline Trinkaus (31 goals, 13 assists) from rival Syracuse. The Eagles are also bringing in talented freshman midfielders and attackers, plus USC starter Hannah Barron (16 goals, 11 assists, 22 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers, 19 draw controls).

Defensively, they’ll need to retool without Shea Baker and all-time great goalie Shea Dolce. Freshman defender Lilly Schwing, a stony 1v1 defender with a head perpetually on a swivel, could see immediate action. Maeve Magarity, a strong communicator with quick hands, could make like Dolce and become a freshman sensation in net.

6. Syracuse

2026 record: 14-6 (7-4 ACC)

Last seen: Blowing a six-goal lead late in the third quarter and getting bounced by Navy 11-10 in the second round of the NCAAs.

Notable departures: Emma Muchnick, M; Mackenzie Rich, A; Mackenzie Salentre, D; Caroline Trinkaus, A (Boston College); Coco Vandiver, D

Notable additions: Olivia Bruno, D (Virginia); Casey Cummings, A; Sophia Cuteno, A; Natalie Daniels, M; Hanna Davis, D (Boston College); Maci Mueller, M; Hollis Mulry (USC), M; Peyton Rothfuss, A; Maya Soskin, G (Florida)

Initial forecast: While offense has long been the Orange’s calling card, their defense took center stage last season, holding opponents to single-digit goals in 16 of 20 games and finishing 10th nationally in scoring defense (8.10).

But the Orange will need to retool without leaders Coco Van Diver (48 caused turnovers, 31 ground balls) and Mackenzie Salentre (23 caused turnovers, 42 ground balls). Rising senior Izzy Lahah’s return should help. ACC Goalkpeer of the Year Daniella Guyette has another year of eligibility remaining and Maya Soskin transferred in from Florida. Soskin, a sophomore and once the eighth-ranked overall recruit in her class, appeared in 18 games for the Gators last season.

Offensively, the Orange lost Trinkaus to the portal and will need to boost production to compete for an ACC title. Syracuse does welcome back leading goal scorer Molly Guzik (44 goals, 10 assists). Plus, Peyton Rothfuss, who initially committed to Florida, followed Regy Thorpe to Syracuse instead. She’ll make her collegiate debut and arrive in Salt City as the No. 9 recruit in her class. She’s a noted goal scorer.