Wildcats Tabbed as Big Ten Preseason Favorites
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Northwestern is the unanimous favorite to win its third consecutive Big Ten Conference women’s lacrosse regular season title, according to a vote of the league’s coaches.
The Wildcats are followed in the poll by Maryland in second, with Johns Hopkins and Michigan in third and fourth. Penn State and USC were selected fifth and sixth, respectively, followed by Rutgers, Ohio State, and Oregon.
Ranked No. 2 in the 2026 KANE Women’s Division I Media Preseason Poll, Northwestern claimed the 2025 Big Ten title with a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play before capturing the tournament championship with thrilling 8-7 win at Maryland. The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Final Round for the sixth consecutive season, making their third straight title game appearance.
The conference also unveiled the 2026 Big Ten Players to Watch List, as selected by the league’s coaches. Nine players who earned All-Big Ten honors in 2025, including last season’s Attacker, Midfielder, Defender, and Freshman of the Year, were included among the Players to Watch.
Returning All-Big Ten First Team honorees include John Hopkins’ Ava Angello, Lacey Downey, and Reagan O’Brien, Maryland’s Kori Edmondson, Michigan duo Grace Callahan and Ava Class, Northwestern’s Madison Taylor and Penn State’s Erika Ho.
The 2026 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament will take place at the University of Michigan Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor, beginning with three quarterfinal games on April 22. The quarterfinal winners along with the top seed will advance to the semifinal round on Friday, April 24, with the championship game contested two days later.
The 2026 preseason poll and complete Players to Watch list can be found below.
2026 BIG TEN WOMEN’S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
1. Northwestern (Unanimous)
2. Maryland
3. Johns Hopkins
4. Michigan
5. Penn State
6. USC
7. Rutgers
8. Ohio State
9. Oregon
2026 BIG TEN WOMEN’S LACROSSE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ava Angello, Sr., A, Johns Hopkins
Lacey Downey, Jr., M, Johns Hopkins
Reagan O’Brien, Sr., D, John Hopkins
Kori Edmondson, Sr., M, Maryland
Kayla Gilmore, So., M, Maryland
JJ Suriano, Jr., GK, Maryland
Grace Callahan, Sr., D, Michigan
Ava Class, Gr., M, Michigan
Calli Norris, Sr., A, Michigan
Mary Carroll, So., D, Northwestern
Madison Epke, Sr., A, Northwestern
Madison Taylor, Sr., A, Northwestern
Camryn Callaghan, Sr., A, Ohio State
Jocelyn Torres, Sr., GK, Ohio State
Kate Tyack, Jr., A, Ohio State
Lexi Jenkins, Jr., M, Oregon
Gabby Santucci, Jr., A, Oregon
Anna Simmons, Sr., M, Oregon
Rocquette Allen, Fr., A, Penn State
Erika Ho, Sr., A, Penn State
Sydney Manning, Jr., GK, Penn State
Lily Dixon, Sr., A, Rutgers
Hilary Elsner, So., A, Rutgers
Charlee Thomas, So., D, Rutgers
Hannah Barron, RS-Jr., M, USC
Emma Bunting, Jr., A, USC
Reese Robinson, Jr., A, USC