At long last, the 2026 women’s lacrosse season has come to a close, and the IWLCA has released one final coaches poll, updating what was previously released on May 4. All of the teams in the top 10 remained the same between the May 4 and May 25 polls, but all 10 teams moved at least one spot. Let’s take a look at where each squad finished to end its season.
NOTE: All rankings referenced in this article are from the most recent poll.
1. Northwestern (19-3, 7-1 B1G)
Movement: up one spot
Last Week: 16-11 win over Johns Hopkins, 14-11
win over North Carolina
This Week: none
For the first time since 2023, the Wildcats are national champions. Northwestern achieved a truly incredible turnaround in 2026, bouncing back from early losses to Colorado, Syracuse and Ohio State to run the table the rest of the way. In the Final Four, the offense stepped up against Johns Hopkins, and although NU trailed against UNC at times during the national championship, a six-assist performance from Madison Taylor and an unlikely four-goal explosion from first-year Gabriella McCollester were enough to carry the ‘Cats to glory.
2. North Carolina (19-2, 10-0 ACC)
Movement: down one spot
Last Week: 16-6 win over Maryland, 14-11 loss to Northwestern
This Week: none
UNC’s only two losses all season both came at the hands of Northwestern, crushing blows for a squad that went undefeated in 2025. The Tar Heels earned a running clock in their Final Four semifinal against Maryland, but against the Wildcats, a 5-0 fourth quarter disadvantage proved to be the nail in the coffin. North Carolina got multi-goal games from four different players, but in the end, star attacker Chloe Humphrey’s struggles were a big factor weighing the team down, as she scored just twice on 11 shots while turning the ball over four times. Nonetheless, it was a season to be proud of once again for the Tar Heels, who are continuing to extend their dynasty.
3. Johns Hopkins (17-5, 6-2 B1G)
Movement: up one spot
Last Week: 16-11 loss to Northwestern
This Week: none
The Blue Jays simply couldn’t keep up with Northwestern in their Final Four semifinal, but it was still a historic season for Johns Hopkins, who made its first Final Four in school history and competed alongside the dynasties of the Wildcats, Tar Heels and Terrapins. Ava Angello’s three goals led the way for the Blue Jays against NU, but in the end, a 40-22 shots disadvantage was too much to overcome. Johns Hopkins’ season still featured a number of big wins, arguably highlighted by its 13-12 miracle over Stony Brook in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal.
4. Maryland (18-4, 6-2 B1G)
Movement: down one spot
Last Week: 16-6 loss to North Carolina
This Week: none
After a great season entering the Final Four, Maryland got outclassed by UNC, losing the shots battle 37-23 and the turnover battle 15-7. Maryland did secure 15 draw controls compared to eight for the Tar Heels, but North Carolina’s defense was overwhelming, limiting the Terrapins’ top scorers for most of the day. Overall, although the Terps had more than their fair share of close games in 2026, it was another historic season to add to the impressive resume of head coach Cathy Reese.
5. Colorado (16-4, 4-1 Big 12)
Movement: up five spots
Last Week: none
This Week: none
Colorado deservedly leapt to No. 5 in the rankings after narrowly missing the Final Four. The Buffaloes entered the season unranked but quickly climbed after a huge upset win over Northwestern, continuing to make life hard for great teams all throughout the season. In the end, a quarterfinal double-overtime loss to NU was what ended Colorado’s season, but the team can still take solace in its impressive Big 12 championship and NCAA Tournament run.
6. Stony Brook (19-3, 7-0 CAA)
Movement: up two spots
Last Week: none
This Week: none
Similar to Colorado, Stony Brook was mere inches away from a Final Four berth, as it lost a lead against Johns Hopkins and fell thanks to a miracle goal in the final seconds. Nonetheless, the Seawolves were a dominant force this season — their only three losses were to Final Four teams (Northwestern and Johns Hopkins twice), and those defeats came by a combined four goals. Stony Brook has a case to be the most underrated team of 2026, and although many Seawolves fans may be left thinking about what could have been, it was still a season to be proud of regardless.
7. Stanford (17-5, 8-2 ACC)
Movement: down one spot
Last Week: none
This Week: none
After a hot start to the season, Stanford wasn’t quite able to maintain its powerhouse status, although the Cardinal did make it relatively close in the NCAA quarterfinal against UNC, only losing by just three goals. Stanford’s victory over Michigan in the tournament’s second round was memorable in its own right, and so were its big early-season victories over Clemson, Syracuse and Notre Dame.
8. Navy (20-2, 8-1 Patriot League)
Movement: down three spots
Last Week: none
This Week: none
Two blemishes against Loyola Maryland and Maryland are all that stain Navy’s schedule in 2026, and it was a great season overall for the Midshipmen, who had a challenging time in the NCAA Tournament but still managed to pick up a signature 11-10 overtime win over Syracuse. Alyssa Chung was an impact player until the end, and beyond her, Navy put together a well-rounded squad that proved it could play without fear against anybody in 2026.
9. Michigan (13-7, 5-3 B1G)
Movement: down two spots
Last Week: none
This Week: none
The Wolverines accumulated a lot of losses for a No. 9-ranked team, but significant victories over Florida, Boston College, Colorado and Maryland (by an 11-goal margin) helped propel them into the top 10 by the end of the season. Michigan’s tournament run came to a disappointing early close in its 13-12 loss to Stanford, but the Wolverines still proved they were a premier Big Ten team in 2026 overall.
10. Syracuse (14-6, 7-3 ACC)
Movement: down one spot
Last Week: none
This Week: none
Syracuse’s season began with incredibly difficult matchups against Maryland, UNC and Stanford, and it ended in heartbreak after the Orange squandered the lead against Navy to lose 11-10 in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. In between, however, Syracuse pulled off some hugely memorable victories, as its season was highlighted by wins over Northwestern, Yale and Notre Dame. 2026 was certainly an adjustment period in coach Regy Thorpe’s first season at the helm, but despite some bumps in the road, the Orange still achieved success.
