Northwestern Captures Ninth NCAA Title, Finishes No. 1 in Final IWLCA DI Coaches Poll
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass.— Northwestern University closed out the 2026 season atop the national rankings after securing a 14-11 victory over North Carolina in the NCAA Championship game and earning the No. 1 spot in the final IWLCA Division I Coaches Poll.
The Wildcats (19-3, 7-1 Big Ten) scored five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to claim their ninth national championship. With the victory, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller became the winningest coach in NCAA Championship history, capturing her ninth national title and surpassing her mentor, Cindy Timchal.
Northwestern advanced to its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship game after defeating Johns Hopkins, 16-11, in Friday’s semifinal matchup.
North Carolina finishes the season ranked No. 2 following its second straight appearance in the national championship game. The Tar Heels concluded an outstanding season at 19-2, including an undefeated record in ACC play. UNC reached the finals after a dominant 16-6 semifinal win over Maryland.
Johns Hopkins ends the season ranked No. 3 after a historic campaign that included the program’s first NCAA Division I Final Four appearance. The Blue Jays finished 17-5, setting a new program record for wins.
Maryland lands at No. 4 after another deep postseason run. The Terrapins finished the year 13-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten play, earning NCAA Tournament victories over Rutgers and Navy before falling to North Carolina in the semifinals.
Colorado rounds out the Top 5 following one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Buffaloes advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals and pushed top-seeded Northwestern to double overtime before falling 13-12. Colorado matched the 2017 squad for the most wins in a season while recording the deepest NCAA Tournament run in school history.
In total, 25 teams are represented in the poll, with voters—college coaches from across the nation—reflecting the latest results across women’s lacrosse. The rankings are based on weekly performances, with this being the final poll of the 2026 season.