After three big weeks of game play, we kick off our first Rankings of the 2026 season! Weather has played a huge factor in limiting games on the east coast this season, with 29 games being cancelled or postponed to a later date over the past week.Teams look towards another big weekend though with hopes to get in 57 games across the country this coming weekend. Representatives from each of our four regions are selected to join the National Rankings Committee each season as well as several other outside members who do not have an affiliation within a league with the goal of creating the most accurate representation of the Top 20 teams within the WCLO. If you want to learn more about how this process works or are passionate about rankings and lacrosse, please connect with us via email at outreach@wclo.us. 
Starting off the season, coming in at number one are reigning national champions, the Catamounts of the University of Vermont. UVM starts off the season 2-0 with back-to-back close wins against #5 Fairfield. #2 belongs to the reigning national runner-ups out of New England, University of New Hampshire. UNH and UVM  battled it out in Round Rock in 2025 with the Catamounts coming out on top 11-9. These two are set to face off on March 1st at Vermont. 

Starting off the 2026 season at #3 are the Hounds of Loyola- Maryland. Loyola - Maryland spent close to three consecutive seasons at the top of our list as a dominant program in the WCLO and look to make their way back to the top this season. Loyola suffered a tough 16-15 loss to Vermont in the National semi-finals last season. The hounds start the season 4-0 with large margin victories over #13 Towson, #19 Johns Hopkins, Stevenson and Morgan State.  

Making their first WCLO rankings debut, tied at number four we have Boise State University and Fairfield University. The Boise State Broncos join the WCLO this season with several previous national tournament appearances within the WCLA and look to build on their success in the nation's premier lacrosse league. Boise State kicked off their season at the Santa Barbara Shootout in Santa Barbara, California and took down other top WCLO teams, #6 Minnesota in triple over time and #9 Grand Valley State. Both games ended 6-5 with the Broncos on top. Fairfield University out of Connecticut took a one year hiatus from the national tournament last year, but are back and have their sights set on trying to make their way back in 2026. 

Several other teams make their way into the Top 20 for the first time ever including many newcomers to the WCLO this season. Joining the ranks include #6 Minnesota, #17 Cornell University, #18 Brown University and #19 Johns Hopkins.  

Previous WCLO Top 20 teams looking to get their first games in still include 2025 Quarterfinalists, Binghamton, first time National Tournament attendees, New York University and Michigan State ‘B’, and the US Naval Academy. Binghamton, NYU and Navy all see their first games this weekend and are eager to hopefully regain their place in the Top 20. 

Check out the full Top 20 here:

Others Receiving Votes: WPI, Purdue, Cortland, and Colby 

Note: Teams who have not played a game in the 2026 season cannot be considered for National Ranking

Upcoming Top 20 Games to Watch:
Sunday, March 1st
#1 Vermont vs. #2 New Hampshire
#13 Towson vs. #19 Johns Hopkins and Stevenson
#11 Fordham vs. New York University, Central Connecticut
#18 Brown vs. WCLA D1 Rhode Island
#15 William & Mary vs. Richmond, George Washington and VCU
#17 Cornell vs. Cortland and Binghamton
#5 Fairfield vs. Marist and WPI 

Other key games to watch 2/28-3/1:
Binghamton vs. Corland and Cornell
Navy vs. WCLA D1 Wake Forest and Elon

Stay tuned for more updates!

January 20th, 2026

Welcome to the 2026 Season! We are in for another thrilling season in the WCLO as we head into our biggest season yet. We had our first new Champion in 2025 - the Catamounts from the University of Vermont. February is slated to see 146 total competitions, 50 more than February of 2025. Also appearing on our list are local rivals, 2025 National Runner-Ups, University of New Hampshire. The two teams will rematch on the first of March, but prior to that will see other top competition, both playing Fairfield in February. These early tough matchups will give us a great first look at what the 2026 season has in store! Teams on our watchlist from the New England region also include Binghamton, Fordham, Marist, New York, Dartmouth, Syracuse, and newcomers Cornell and Onondoga. 

Out of the Midwest, we have Grand Valley State University and West Virginia University who both were in attendance at Round Rock in 2025. West Virginia (10-4) had a successful showing in their first ever National Tournament appearance with a close loss to University of St. Thomas and pulling out a thrilling come back 10-9 victory after being down 9-3 at half time over New York University. New to the WCLL this season and on our watchlist are the Boilermakers of Purdue University. We spoke with Emma Zaleski, the president of the WVU Women’s Club Lacrosse team, about the upcoming season and the success of their team last season. 

“We’re really excited to start the new season. Last spring was amazing; we made it to nationals for the first time and raised the bar for our program. That success gave us a big boost, bringing more recognition both at WVU and in our league. We want to keep that momentum going this semester and come out strong. Our fall ball season went well, too. We won a big rivalry game and had a lot of fun as we prepared for spring. We’re hoping to qualify for nationals again this season and improve our ranking from last year!”

Heading further south, our Mid-Atlantic region (MAWLL) also brings back 3x National Champions, Loyola-Maryland. The Greyhounds ended last season 8-5 and lost to the eventual champions, Vermont in the semi-finals. Other teams from the MAWLL include 2025 Regional Champions William & Mary (5-4), Towson (10-5), the US Naval Academy (11-3), American, George Washington, Georgetown, and newcomers, Richmond. 

Our furthest west teams include the University of St. Thomas out of Minnesota. The Tommies finished last season 8-5 and have consistently been the front runner of the NCWLL region over the last decade. The Tommies will see some tough competition this season with the addition of both the Gophers of the University of Minnesota and the Badgers of the University of Wisconsin to their region for the 2026 season. The University of Minnesota chimed in with their thoughts on being included in the watchlist this season. “The Minnesota Women’s Lacrosse team is super excited for the upcoming season! Joining the WCLO has given us the opportunity to play some great teams both locally and nationally. To kick off the season, we cannot wait to play in the Santa Barbara Shootout as it has always been a team favorite, especially since we have some exciting games with other WCLO teams! We are grateful to have such a wonderful group of young women both on our team and in the league. Best of luck to everyone this season! Go gophers!” -Minnesota Women’s Lacrosse President, Grace Stamm 

Last but certainly not least, Boise State University will compete as independents for the 2026 season. Although cut off from many of their local competition, the Broncos look towards competing against strong competition in the WCLO and will kick off their campaign at the Santa Barbara Shootout in Santa Barbara, California in early February. 

With the National Tournament moving to the east coast this spring, we are eager to potentially see some new faces at the tournament. The 2026 National Championship will take place at the River City Sportsplex in Chesterfield, Virginia. The tournament will showcase the top 12 teams in the country and will take place May 6th-May 8th. The National Championship will again run concurrently with the MCLA National Championships and give a unique experience to many teams having both their men and women’s teams simultaneously competing for National Championships. 

Our preseason watchlist consists of teams who have consistently been in the Top 20 throughout the previous year, have attended the National Tournament, have played close games with other top teams in the country, have been showing potential to be a national contender this season, etc. The 2026 Watchlist also includes teams new to the WCLO this season to keep an eye on.

Preseason Watchlist:

*indicates new team to WCLO

National Partnership
WCLO x Chill Medicated
 
WCLO and Chill Medicated Announce Renewal of Three-Year Partnership to Continue Powering Women’s Sports and Recovery Innovation

1/19/26 — The Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Organization (WCLO) proudly announces the renewal of its partnership with Chill Medicated, a leading brand in cannabis-based topical recovery products, for an additional three years. This renewed collaboration continues a shared mission of empowering women in sports and promoting holistic, plant-based recovery solutions for athletes.

Since first teaming up, the WCLO and Chill Medicated have worked together to support female student-athletes through education, awareness, and access to innovative recovery products made with natural ingredients, including hemp and cannabis based blends with and without THC.

“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Chill Medicated,” said Towbey Kassa, Vice President of Marketing & Outreach for the WCLO. “Our athletes are constantly pushing their limits, and recovery is a huge part of performance. Chill Medicated’s commitment to wellness through safe, effective plant-based products perfectly aligns with our mission to elevate women’s collegiate lacrosse and promote athlete well-being.”

Chill Medicated, known for its line of CBD and THC-infused topicals designed for muscle and joint recovery, has become a recognized name among athletes seeking natural alternatives to traditional pain relief methods.

“We’re proud to continue standing with the WCLO and the incredible women who make this league what it is,” said David Shaba, National Director of Chill Medicated. “More athletes are turning to cannabis-derived solutions both THC and THC-free  for faster recovery and better overall wellness. Partnering with the WCLO allows us to support a movement that’s breaking barriers, both in sports and in health.”
The partnership will include continued support at WCLO national and regional events, athlete spotlights, and co-branded education initiatives that highlight the science and benefits behind responsible cannabis use in sports recovery.
Together, the WCLO and Chill Medicated are setting the standard for how athletic organizations and wellness brands can collaborate to empower athletes, destigmatize plant-based recovery, and advance women’s sports nationwide.
 
About WCLO
The Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Organization (WCLO) is dedicated to growing women’s collegiate lacrosse by providing opportunities, resources, and exposure for student athletes at the club level across the nation. The WCLO fosters competition, leadership, and empowerment through sport.
 
About Chill Medicated
Chill Medicated is a premier producer of cannabis-based topical recovery products, offering CBD and THC-infused balms and lotions designed to aid in muscle recovery and pain relief. With a focus on quality, accessibility, and wellness, Chill Medicated continues to lead the way in natural recovery innovation.