Northwestern Lacrosse Aims for Home Final Four Glory

Wildcats reload with high-impact transfers, eye national title on home turf

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:31pm

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Northwestern women's lacrosse enters the 2026 season with championship aspirations, bolstered by the addition of several high-profile transfers including Maddie Epke, Olivia Adamson, Jennika Cuocco and Annabel Child. The Wildcats are eyeing a return to the Final Four, which will be hosted at their home field in Evanston, Illinois this year.

Why it matters

Northwestern has been one of the most dominant women's lacrosse programs of the past decade, winning seven national championships. The team fell just short in the last two title games, and with the Final Four taking place on their home turf in 2026, the Wildcats are determined to capture another championship in front of their passionate fanbase.

The details

The Wildcats' loaded roster features the return of star attacker Madison Taylor, who put up historic numbers in 2025 with 109 goals and 49 assists. She'll be joined by transfers Maddie Epke and Olivia Adamson, who should provide additional firepower on offense. In goal, Jennika Cuocco, a three-time CAA Goalie of the Year, will look to solidify the defense in front of her. The team also welcomes top-10 recruit Mckenzie Brown to bolster the backline.

  • The 2026 season opens on February 6 with a matchup against No. 3 Boston College.
  • The Wildcats face off against No. 1 North Carolina on March 25.
  • Northwestern hosts No. 8 Maryland on April 9 in a rematch of last year's Big Ten Championship game.
  • The team closes the regular season on April 19 against No. 15 Michigan.

The players

Madison Taylor

The star attacker for Northwestern, Taylor put up historic numbers in 2025 with 109 goals and 49 assists, and will look to lead the Wildcats to a national title in her final season.

Maddie Epke

A transfer from James Madison, Epke is a first-team All-American who recorded 65 goals, 23 assists and 235 draw controls in 2025. She should provide a major boost to the Wildcats' offense.

Jennika Cuocco

The transfer goalkeeper from Drexel is a three-time CAA Goalie of the Year and two-time Tewaaraton Watch List nominee, and will look to solidify the Wildcats' defense in front of her.

Olivia Adamson

The graduate transfer from Syracuse is a versatile midfielder who can score, distribute and win draws. She'll look to make an immediate impact for the Wildcats.

Mckenzie Brown

The top-10 defensive recruit joins Northwestern and will look to make an immediate contribution to a backline that lost some key pieces from last season.

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What they’re saying

“If the returning core and the high-profile transfers impact this team the way we anticipate, Taylor won't have to shoulder the same astronomical burden she did in 2025. That's not a knock on her, but a testament to the depth of this roster.”

— Pierson Strandquist, Northwestern Lacrosse Analyst

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery Employee

What’s next

The Wildcats will look to continue their preparations for the season opener against Boston College on February 6.

The takeaway

With a loaded roster featuring star power and high-impact transfers, Northwestern is poised to make a run at the national championship, especially with the Final Four taking place on their home field in Evanston. The Wildcats are determined to capture another title and cement their status as one of the premier women's lacrosse programs in the country.