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.

Six years ago, Able Lacrosse launched with a simple goal. Brothers Rowan and Christian Dias wanted to share their passion for lacrosse with their younger sister, Elle, and with other children like her who had developmental differences. 

“Honestly, we were just hopeful that we would be able to have a once per week opportunity for Elle and her friends to get together and play lacrosse,” said Vanessa Dias, mother to the three siblings.

SPARKS, Md. – USA Lacrosse and Leveling the Playing Field are joining forces to expand access to the sport, hosting a lacrosse equipment drive on Tuesday, April 14 at Camden Yards for the Orioles Lacrosse Night. The Orioles host the Arizona Diamondbacks and lacrosse fans can snag an exclusive limited-edition Orioles pinnie when purchasing tickets through the link below.

The last two undefeated teams in the WCLA’s Division I ranks occupy the top two spots in this week’s Top 20 poll, with UC Santa Barbara (15-0) maintaining its hold on number one and defending champion Boston College (6-0) climbing to number two. The Eagles picked up league wins over No. 19 Providence and UMass last weekend to jump two spots this week.  

Florida Club, Clemson Club and Michigan Club round out this week’s top five.  

The United States women’s national team will begin defense of its world title against Ireland on July 25 at the 2026 Nissin Foods World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Tokyo, Japan. The U.S., which won the most recent women’s field championship in 2022 in Towson, Md., will play three pool play games before the playoffs begin on July 29. The gold medal match is set for Sunday, August 2.

For American military servicemen and women stationed at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, the risk of Groundhog Day syndrome is quite real. Every day on the 45-square-mile base starts to look exactly like the day before. Rinse and repeat.

That’s one of the reasons that Ken Goris, an Army reservist now serving in his second tour in Cuba, decided that introducing the game of lacrosse might be a welcome distraction for his fellow soldiers and their families. Goris figured that the game he loves would be a good way to break up the daily routine.

Undefeated UC Santa Barbara and Florida Club continue to hold the top two positions in the latest WCLA Division I ranking, released today. The Gauchos and Gators are a combined 25-0 this season and two of six undefeated teams in this week’s Top 20.

No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Boston College, and No. 5 Michigan round out the top five.

For years, lacrosse has embraced a familiar marketing mantra: the fastest game on two feet. It has also been one of the fastest-growing sports in America. Today, the sport boasts three professional leagues, NCAA championships drawing robust attendance, and—most significantly—a return to the Olympic stage as a medal sport for the first time in more than a century at the LA28 Games.

SPARKS, Md. – USA Lacrosse is extending its commitment to helping student-athletes play at the next level, announcing a renewed exclusive partnership with NCSA College Recruiting and SportsRecruits, both part of the IMG Academy network of services, to deliver expanded recruiting access, education, and tools to its more than 425,000 members nationwide.

SPARKS, Md. – Participation trends are shifting, youth sports are evolving, and the broader landscape of sport and physical activity in the U.S. is changing. Join USA Lacrosse for a free “State of the Sport” Webinar on Wednesday, March 25 at noon (Eastern) to explore what the data reveals about the future of the game.