Northwestern clinched the 2026 DI women’s lacrosse championship, defeating North Carolina 14-11. The match, held on Sunday, May 24, saw the Wildcats triumph in front of their home crowd.
The victory marks Northwestern’s first title since 2023. It also avenged their championship loss to UNC the previous season.
How Northwestern Won the Title
The 29-team, single-elimination tournament included 15 automatic bids and 14 at-large selections. Higher seeds hosted quarterfinal matchups.
The semifinals and championship final were played at Northwestern’s Martin Stadium in Evanston, IL.
North Carolina’s 2025 Victory
In 2025, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Northwestern Wildcats, 12-8, to take home the national championship. It was the program’s first since 2022 and fourth all-time.
DI Women’s Lacrosse National Champions
Below is a full list of every DI women’s lacrosse national champion since 1982.
Note: Before 2001, this championship was a national collegiate championship.