Northwestern Claims Share of Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Title

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Northwestern Wildcats clinched at least a share of the 2026 Big Ten women’s lacrosse title tonight by virtue of Michigan’s win over Maryland at the U-M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. This marks the fourth consecutive Big Ten crown for the Wildcats and the fifth overall, with each coming since 2021.

Northwestern, ranked No. 2 in this week's IWLCA Coaches Poll, will enter this weekend’s regular season finale with a 6-1 record and a one game lead over No. 3 Maryland. No. 6 Johns Hopkins completed its regular season with a 6-2 mark in conference play after tonight’s 10-9 overtime win at No. 19 Penn State.

The Wildcats can secure the outright title on Saturday with a win at No. 11 Michigan. The opening draw is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and will be aired on Big Ten Network.

The regular season champion will also earn the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament, presented by Allstate, and a bye into the semifinal round. The tournament will get underway on Wednesday, April 22 with three quarterfinal games. The three quarterfinal winners and the No. 1 seed will advance to Friday’s semifinal round, with Friday’s winners meeting on Sunday for the Big Ten Tournament title and the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. All six tournament games will be played at U-M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

For more information about the 2026 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse Tournament, presented by Allstate, please click here .