Maryland, Northwestern and North Carolina lead the DI women's lacrosse top 10 reveal

The NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship Subcommittee has announced its top 10 teams with less than three weeks until selections.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:24pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a women's lacrosse game, with overlapping planes of color and form representing the intensity and unpredictability of the sport.The top-ranked teams in women's lacrosse will look to navigate the fractured, high-stakes tournament ahead.Evanston Today

The NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship Subcommittee has revealed its top 10 teams, with Maryland, Northwestern, and North Carolina leading the rankings. The top three seeds earn a bye into the second round of the tournament, which begins on May 8 and culminates with the championship game on May 22 and 24 in Evanston, Illinois.

Why it matters

The top 10 rankings provide an early look at the top contenders for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship. These rankings will help shape the 29-team field, which will be announced on May 3, and give fans a sense of the teams to watch as the tournament approaches.

The details

Using results through games on April 15, the top 10 teams are: 1. Maryland (13-1), 2. Northwestern (12-3), 3. North Carolina (12-1), 4. Syracuse (12-3), 5. Navy (14-1), 6. Johns Hopkins (12-3), 7. Stony Brook (13-2), 8. Michigan (10-4), 9. Florida (12-2), and 10. Colorado (10-3). The rankings are based on criteria including won-lost record, strength of schedule, RPI, head-to-head competition, and significant wins and losses.

  • The top 10 teams were announced on April 16, 2026.
  • The 29-team field for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship will be revealed on May 3, 2026.
  • The tournament begins on May 8, 2026, with the championship game scheduled for May 22 and 24, 2026 in Evanston, Illinois.

The players

Maryland

The No. 1 seed in the top 10 rankings, with a 13-1 record and the best record against teams in the top 40 RPI.

Northwestern

The No. 2 seed, with a 12-3 record and seven wins over teams in the top 20 RPI.

North Carolina

The defending national champion and No. 3 seed, with a 12-1 record and a 9-0 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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What’s next

The full 29-team field for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship will be revealed on May 3, 2026 at 9 p.m. Eastern time on ESPNU.

The takeaway

The top 10 rankings provide an early look at the top contenders for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship, with Maryland, Northwestern, and North Carolina leading the way. These rankings will help shape the tournament field and give fans a sense of the teams to watch as the postseason approaches.