The 2025 NCAA ladies’s lacrosse event begins this weekend, with video games getting underway on Friday at on-campus websites. The 29-team area options 15 automated bids and 14 at-large choices.
Boston School is the game’s reigning champs and the Eagles will attempt to develop into the primary group to repeat as nationwide title holders for the primary time in a decade. Standing of their means nonetheless is the undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels, who’ve already bested BC twice this season.
The remainder of the sector contains proficient gamers, fascinating storylines and a handful of groups with actual probabilities to contend for a spot within the Ultimate 4. Let’s break down the whole lot there’s to know concerning the event this season.
How does the NCAA ladies’s lacrosse event format work?
Of the 29 groups that make the sector, the highest three seeds obtain first-round byes. This yr, these belong to No. 1 total seed North Carolina, reigning champs Boston School, and third-seeded Northwestern, which gained the event in 2023.
The highest eight seeds within the area get internet hosting privileges throughout the event’s opening weekend. The remainder of the highest seeds are: No. 4 Florida, No. 5 Virginia, No. 6 Maryland, No. 7 Yale and No. 8 Johns Hopkins. Sure — Johns Hopkins performs a lot of its different sports activities in Division III, however competes in Division I in males’s and girls’s lacrosse.
First spherical video games will happen on Friday, and the winners of these video games within the on-campus pods will then face off within the second spherical on Sunday. Of the eight groups remaining within the quarterfinals, the upper seed in every matchup will host on Could 15, with the winners shifting onto the Ultimate 4 in Foxborough, Massachusetts’ Gillette Stadium.
The nationwide semifinals will happen on Could 23, with the championship recreation set for Could 25.
Easy methods to watch the NCAA ladies’s lacrosse event
Video games within the first and second spherical will likely be on ESPN+. The quarterfinals and semifinals will likely be on ESPNU, and the nationwide championship recreation will air on ESPN at midday ET on Could 25.
Who’s the favourite within the 2025 NCAA ladies’s lacrosse event?
It’s the North Carolina Tar Heels, who’re an ideal 18-0 and have 11 wins over nationally ranked opponents, including two against Boston College and one towards Northwestern. Guided by longtime head coach Jenny Levy, the Tar Heels rank second nationally in scoring with 17.5 targets per recreation and first in protection, permitting simply 6.67 targets per recreation.
Main the Tar Heels’ offense are sisters and finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, Chloe and Ashley Humphrey. Chloe, a redshirt freshman, was named MVP of the ACC Tournament and is sixth nationally in scoring with 73 targets this season. Ashley, a graduate senior, is tenth nationally in complete factors with 70 assists and 28 targets. Chloe is the primary freshman ever to be a finalist for the Tewaaraton — akin to the Heisman for girls’s lacrosse — whereas Ashley is 9 assists away from proudly owning the NCAA’s all-time profession document.
On the defensive finish, UNC’s sophomore goalkeeper Betty Nelson has the nation’s fourth-best save proportion at 50.5.
North Carolina will play the winner of Clemson vs. Navy on Sunday. The Tigers — whose program is simply three years previous — is within the NCAA Match for the primary time ever, whereas Navy is within the area for the primary time since 2019 beneath Corridor of Fame coach Cindy Timchal.
What different gamers are value watching?
Boston School’s Rachel Clark is the nation’s main goalscorer with 91 this season, whereas Northwestern’s Madison Taylor is simply behind her with 89 targets. Taylor additionally has 32 free place targets this season, which leads the nation.
Moreover for Boston School, goalkeeper Shea Dolce is a Tewaaraton finalist. She was voted Goalkeeper of the 12 months within the ACC and has the nation’s greatest save proportion at 55.7.
Georgia Latch, a senior assault at Loyola Maryland, is an offensive power too as she’s second nationally in complete factors with 69 assists and 53 targets. The Greyhounds open towards Stony Brook on Friday and the winner will face Boston School.
Madison Epke of James Madison is the very best within the nation at draw controls, successful 12.61 per recreation and a complete of 227 on the season. JMU opens the event towards Duke on Friday.
Defensively, Reagan O’Brien of Johns Hopkins is the queen of forcing turnovers, inflicting 85 this season and 4.72 per recreation. The Blue Jays open the event versus Liberty.
For fourth-seeded Florida, midfielder Kaitlyn Davies does a little bit little bit of the whole lot at a excessive stage, rating within the prime three for the Gators in targets, floor balls, brought about turnovers and draw controls. The Massive 12 Midfielder of the 12 months will lead the Gators towards Mercer.
