25. Georgetown
2026 record: 12-6 (5-1 Big East)
Last seen: In a 12-4 loss to No. 13 Denver in the Big East championship
Notable departures: Gracie Driggs, A; Kendall Steer, D; Leah Warehime, G
Notable additions: Finley Barger, M; Sarah Waits, D; Annie Toulouse, A
Initial forecast: The Hoyas are on the come up. In 2026, they returned to the Big East championship for the first time since 2022 in head coach Caityln Phipps’ second season at Georgetown.
The Hoyas are known for their defense. Last season they ranked 10th in the nation in goals allowed per game (7.76) and return their first team All-Big East defender Amanda Brille.
On the opposite side of the field, the Hoyas have first team All-Big East attacker Anne McGovern (36 goals, 27 assists).
This Georgetown team will still need to figure out a solution for Big East foe Denver, but the Hoyas have a strong trajectory that could make 2027 their breakthrough year.
24. Virginia
2026 record: 8-9 (6-4 ACC)
Last seen: In an 11-9 loss to No. 4 Syracuse in the ACC quarterfinals
Notable departures: Kate Galica, M; Olivia Bruno, D; Lara Kology, D
Notable additions: Regan Backer, M; Stuart King, A; Gracyn Lambert, M
Initial forecast: The Cavaliers need a change in this upcoming 2027 season. They had a losing record last season and after that lost a lot of their veteran talent with eight Hoos in the transfer portal.
Galica, who is headed to North Carolina, leads the transfer trend. She will be hard to replace as the 2025 ACC Midfielder of the Year, the first for UVA, and the all-time program leader in draw controls (420).
It will be up to the husband-wife coaching duo in Sonia and Michael LaMonica to create chemistry on the field. Virginia missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995. It's time to rebuild.
23. Princeton
2026 record: 11-7 (5-2 Ivy League)
Last seen: In a 12-11 loss to No. 20 Rutgers in the opening round of the NCAA tournament
Notable departures: Haven Dora, A; Jami MacDonald, A; Amelia Hughes, GK; Maggie Molnar, M; Dylan Allen, D
Notable Additions: Isabel Insley, A; Camryn Adrid, M; Elim Yang, A
Initial forecast: Chris Sailer’s players are now all gone. Eight of nine seniors started for the Tigers. As a team that depended on its senior class on both ends of the field, this upcoming season will be a test to see if the next generation of Princeton women’s lacrosse can hold its own.
The biggest loss for the Tigers is on their attack unit. The Dora-MacDonald combo was lethal for any team to defend. Dora (23 goals, 59 assists) operated as a master feeder from X and second team All-American MacDonald (49 goals, 36 assists) was a walking BTB. Princeton will rebuild its attack around Meg Morrisroe (53 goals, 11 assists).
Ivy League tournament MVP Maggie Molnar (20 goals, three assists) has also graduated and second team All-American goalie Amelia Hughes (50.5% save percentage) is going to be tough to replace between the pipes. Jackie Feldman, a 5-foot-10 sophomore and four-star recruit, is most likely to take over the job.
22. Army
2026 record: 15-5 (8-1 Patriot League)
Last seen: In a 21-13 loss to No. 4 Johns Hopkins in the second round of the NCAA tournament
Notable departures: Brigid Duffy, M; Allison Reilly, A; Lindsey Serafine, GK; Lily Valentini, A
Notable additions: Ella Ostrowski, A
Initial forecast: Coming off the most successful season in program history and graduating game-changers Brigid Duffy and Allison Reilly, Army has its work cut out for it. The team was the regular season champion of the Patriot League for the first time after ending Loyola's epic winning streak and won its first NCAA tournament game. Duffy, a U.S. Women's National Team member, and Reilly were the first Black Knights ever to earn first team All-American laurels.
Ryan Remaly (25 goals, four assists) and Paige Moretti (14 goals, one assists) are accomplished producers at midfield who could help bridge the gap.
21. Duke
2026 record: 9-8 (5-5 ACC)
Last seen: In a 15-11 loss to No. 1 North Carolina in the ACC quarterfinals
Notable departures: Madison Beale, D; Sydney Smith, D
Notable additions: Brooke McCoy, M; Brooke Ambrose, M; Shaye Angelo, A; Harper Lambert, A; Olivia Rose, D; Ava Plata, A; Peep Williams, A
Initial forecast: This Duke team is young. In 2026, there were only four true seniors on the roster. Now, the Blue Devils are adding depth, notably with an impressive transfer class led by Olivia Rose (Stanford), Peep Williams (Stanford) and Ava Plata (UConn). In 2025, Rose led Standford with 50 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers.
If returning standouts Eva Pronti (19 goals, 51 assists), Ava Biancardi (51 goals, 12 assists) Avery Doran (41 goals, 20 assists), Bella Goodwin (33 goals, 22 assists), and Quinn Whitaker (31 goals, six assists) continue to produce, this team’s offense will find some serious momentum.
