Palms Handle Charging, Take Top Spot in WLL Standings

The last time the New York Charging and California Palms met was the 2026 Women’s Lacrosse League Championship Series title game. The Charging came out on top 18-11 against the Palms, who were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

On Saturday night, the Palms didn’t let the Charging get the best of them again. It was all “Palms Up,” as the team says, in California’s 16-9 win.

After winning, the Palms climbed to first place in WLL standings. Here’s how the Palms put it away.

MORENO MAYHEM

Both goalies put on a show. New York’s Madison Doucette had just come off a league-record performance with 17 saves in the last game, but Doucette couldn’t match that against the Palms. She had 12.

But someone else matched it. On the other side of the field, Taylor Moreno posted 17 saves of her own.

“Honestly, at the end of the day, I would not be making the saves that I’m making if it weren’t for the defense that’s in front of me,” Moreno said. “I couldn’t be more proud to play behind them.”

PALMELLA

As “California Gurls” by Katy Perry played after the game, a sea of pink ran to celebrate their victory. A team MVP Barbie doll sitting on the sideline of their home turf. It’s clear the Palms are truly embracing their team branding and what it means to be a woman playing pro lacrosse.

The Golden State girls are golden. Home team advantage is real.

“Lacrosse is such a hot bed on the East Coast and moving it a little bit more West is an opportunity for us to continue to grow the game,” said Palms attacker Sam Geiersbach, who also coaches high school girls’ lacrosse out West in Colorado. “It’s a huge win for us, and California, and California lacrosse.”

FOURTH-QUARTER FIRE

While the Palms led at the end of every quarter, it was in the fourth quarter that California really pulled away. Ellie Masera and Geiersbach each scored as many goals by themselves in the fourth as the Charging notched in the entire quarter (two).

“I think we started a little slow and stagnant on the offensive end, but with some adjustments made, we moved the ball well, trusted each other, and found each other on the backside,” said Geiersbach, who scored four goals.

DRAW FLAW

New York dominated the draw, winning 78 percent against the Palms. The logic is that more draw wins means more possessions, which means more chances to score. None of that was the case for the Charging, as many of their draw wins were dismantled by Palms.  

The Charging had 23 turnovers compared to the Palms’ 14.

New York is no longer undefeated. With a new No. 1 in town, the WLL heads to Annapolis, for All-Star action featuring Team Humphrey and Team Scane. Regular season rosters will be scrambled, but the best of the best in lacrosse will all be on one field.