One of the most enjoyable aspects of the weekly WCLA rankings is seeing new teams entering the poll and being recognized for their achievements. Sometimes, it’s the return of a program after a period of absence, as we have seen this year with No. 1 ranked UC Santa Barbara.
In other cases, it’s the emergence of a program that has never been in the spotlight. The best example of that in 2026 is Auburn, which was unranked in the preseason, entered the ranking in Week 2, and has hovered in the 14-16 range in the poll for much of the season.
The Tigers are not hovering any longer. They have now pounced.
Fresh off their first Southeastern Women's Lacrosse League (SWLL) championship last weekend, Auburn has earned its highest-ever weekly ranking, climbing to ninth this week. Their championship run included back-to-back wins over No. 4 Florida and No. 3 Clemson.
• This Week’s WCLA Top 20 Rankings: Division I -- Division II
“Winning the SWLL is something this team has been working toward for years and truly reflects the dedication every player has poured into this program,” said club president Abby Kavanagh. “Beating the teams ranked number three and four nationally really shows what we’re capable of. We approached every game with a winner’s mentality and proved that when we play our game, we are a hard team to beat.”
By winning the SWLL title, Auburn also claimed the league’s automatic qualification to the USA Lacrosse WCLA Championship Tournament, May 12-15 in Naples. Fla. The Tigers will be making their first Nationals appearance in program history.
“Our team is beyond excited for the opportunity to compete at Nationals,” Kavanagh said. “This is a huge milestone for our program. It’s incredibly rewarding to see all of our hard work pay off, especially knowing how much this team has built over the past few years.”
This season’s breakthrough is even sweeter for the Tigers after tough battles in recent years against the SWLL’s powerhouse programs yielded limited returns.
“Over the past few years, our senior class has built such a strong foundation for this program,” Kavanagh said. “While we’ve always been known as a defensively strong team, our offense and re-defend have been a complete game changer for us this season. We have a full team of talented players and great depth on our roster, which allows for constant energy and effort on the field. That consistency has played a huge role in our success this year.”
Coming off the SWLL title, Kavanagh says that the Tigers are focused on carrying their momentum into the national championships in Naples.
“We know we’re not done yet. We’re excited to keep competing and proving ourselves, and we plan to bring some strong competition against some of the best teams in the country.”
Auburn is not the only team working on its travel plans to Naples this week. Two other teams also punched their tickets by claiming automatic bids last weekend.
Oregon State will be returning to the national championship for the first time since 2014 after winning the Northwest Women's Lacrosse League championship. Making the win even sweeter for the Beavers was the fact that it came against arch-rival Oregon, 12-10, in the final game.
And No. 12 Utah will be returning to Nationals for the fifth straight year after defeating BYU, 9-8, in the Northwest Women's Lacrosse League final.
Five more leagues will determine their champions this week, with each winner earning an automatic berth to Naples. The rest of the national championship field will be filled with at-large selections, with the full field and seedings announced next week.
In the Division II ranking, the top six teams remain unchanged this week, with undefeated Montana State (9-0) maintaining its season-long hold on the number one spot. The Bobcats are followed by No. 2 Denver, No. 3 Concordia, No. 4 UC San Diego and No. 5 Missouri. Those top five teams have combined for a 46-3 record this season.
About the WCLA
Nearly 150 non-varsity collegiate teams comprise the WCLA and compete under the USA Lacrosse umbrella. The season ends every year with the annual Division I and Division II National Championships, which showcase the WCLA’s premier teams. The 2026 championship is scheduled for May 11-16 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla. and will feature 16 Division I clubs and 12 Division II teams vying for titles.
