Way Early Rankings: Nos. 5-1 (Division I Women)

College campuses are awakening again with students reporting for the 2024-25 academic year.

But forget the 2024 part. We’re already looking ahead to 2025.

With the launch of a new college year soon comes the beginning of fall ball, meaning it’ll soon be time to count the days before the next college lacrosse season begins.

Here’s our first stab at putting together a Division I Women's Top 25 for 2025.

Up next: Nos. 5-1.

Previous: Nos. 25-21 | Nos. 20-16 | Nos. 15-11 | Nos. 10-6

5. MICHIGAN

2024 record: 16-4 (4-2 Big Ten)

Last seen: Concluding the best season in program history with a 14-9 NCAA quarterfinal loss to eventual national champion Boston College.

Notable departures: Maddie Burns, D; Annabelle Burke, M; Caroline Davis, A; Josie Gooch, M; Lily Montemarano, A

Notable additions: Caroline Byrd, A; Zoe Martin, A; Remi Schaller, M

Initial forecast: The Wolverines’ rise was one of 2024’s pleasant surprises (from an external perspective), and Michigan’s roster looks ready to replicate or build on it. Maddie Burns is the lone graduate on a defensive unit that let in the fewest goals per game in Division I (7.55). Its anchor, first-team All-American goalie Erin O’Grady, is back after finishing second nationally in save percentage (.549).

Offensively, the Wolverines return 79 percent of their goal-scoring and leaders Jill Smith (57 G, 14 A) and Kaylee Dyer (50 G, 19 A) from last year. Most of Michigan’s goals were unassisted last year (147 of 248). Assists leader Caroline Davis (26 A) graduated, and whether the Wolverines will spread the ball around more remains to be seen. Caroline Byrd, a crafty crease attacker out of Florida power American Heritage-Delray, also enters the fold.

The most significant losses are in the circle, where Michigan loses 168 of 263 draws (65 percent). Most of that is Lily Montemarano (114 DC), but Josie Gooch chipped in 32 draws. Smith (66 DC) is always a threat in that department, but Montemarano and Gooch took the pressure off Smith to “do it all,” as she essentially did in 2023. Trouble in that department will likely put more pressure on the defense but expect the unit to be up for the challenge.

4. NORTH CAROLINA

2024 record: 10-7 (6-3 ACC)

Last seen: Closing the book on an injury-riddled season with a 17-8 loss to Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Notable departures: Olivia Dirks, M; Gabi Hall, D; Bailey Horne, D; Alyssa Long, M; Emily Nalls, D; Flynn Reed, DS; Caitlyn Wurzburger, A; Mckenna Harden, D

Notable additions: Sarah Gresham, A; Olivia Vergano, A; Tess Calabria, A; Charlotte Corkins, M; Kate Levy, M; Eliza Osburn, M; Addison Pattillo, A; Lexi Zenk, G

Initial forecast: North Carolina will enter fall ball happy to turn the page from a 2024 season that presented unexpected challenges before it even started. With season-ending injuries to defender Brooklyn Walker-Welch, midfielder Kaleigh Harden and attackers Marissa White and top rookie Chloe Humphrey, the Tar Heels’ uncharacteristic 10-7 finish was actually quite impressive.

They’re all slated to return in 2025 — and they’ll be joined by six five-star true freshmen, including Kate Levy, the No. 4 player in Inside Lacrosse’s rankings and the USA Lacrosse High School Girls’ Player of the Year. Levy has long dreamt of playing for her mother, Tar Heels head coach Jenny Levy, and UNC fans have likely spent the last several months dreaming of Levy having four years with Chloe Humphrey, once the top recruit in her class. Her sister, Ashley, led the Heels in points (38) and assists (19).

That’s not to say there aren’t key departures, including Caitlyn Wurzburger (29 G, 21 A) and Alyssa Long (32 G, 10 A). Defensively, the Tar Heels take the hardest hits with starters Gabi Hall, Bailey Horne and Emily Nalls gone. The return — and extra year of eligibility — of Walker-Welch comes at a good time.

All told, UNC returns a loaded roster. Boston College does (offensively, at least), too, so another ACC crown and final four trip aren’t done deals. However, don’t expect the Tar Heels to be making early exits or losing by 15 goals to Syracuse in 2025 or any time soon.

3. SYRACUSE

2024 record: 16-6 (8-1 ACC)

Last seen: Losing to Boston College (again) in the final four, 10-7.

Notable departures: Maddie Baxter, M; Bianca Chevarie, D; Katie Goodale, D; Natalie Smith, M; Halle Simkins, D; Delaney Sweitzer, G; Savannah Sweitzer, M; Emma Tyrrell, M; Faith Wooters, M; Jennifer Markey, M; Evan Johnston, D

Notable additions: Mileena Cotter, M; Molly Guzik, M; Alexia Reber, D; Caroline Trinkaus, M, Ava Peers, M

Initial forecast: Emma Ward’s late-summer announcement that she planned to return made for much-needed good news in the Salt City. Earlier this summer, top recruits from the class of 2025, Alexa Spallina and Aubrie Eisfeld, flipped their commitments to Clemson. We won’t see the impact of those decisions until next year. More relevant to this conversation: Ward, who posted 44 goals and 37 assists, means the Orange bring back two of their top three scorers. Olivia Adamson (58 G, 25 A). is also back.

Other than that, the lineup will look drastically different, starting offensively without leading scorer Emma Tyrrell (70 G, 22 A) and critical weapons in the midfield in Natalie Smith (44 G, 10 A, 26 DC), Maddie Baxter (30 G, 6 A, 12 CT) and Savannah Sweitzer (24 G, 9 A). Speaking of Sweitzer, Syracuse has a goalie to replace with two-year starter Delaney (9.61 GAA, .418 SV %) also gone.

A potential X factor: Kate Mashewske, who secured 234 draws in 2025, has not announced whether she will return. After losing much of 2023 to injury, Mashewske has an extra year of eligibility.

Where does that leave us? With so many questions and few answers. And the main one remains the same as it always is before a season starts in Syracuse: The answer in 2024 was no, with nemesis Boston College once again delivering the season-ending blow. The road to ACC and NCAA glory will likely involve beating the Eagles in 2025, too, and UNC is restocked and ready for a revenge tour. Virginia is also emerging. But the ACC is always a challenge, isn’t it?

2. NORTHWESTERN

2024 record: 18-3 (5-1 Big Ten)

Last seen: Coming up one goal short of a repeat in a 14-13 NCAA championship game loss to Boston College.

Notable departures: Dylan Amonte, A; Erin Coykendall, A; Kendall Halpern, D; Leah Holmes, A; Molly Laliberty, G; Carleigh Mahoney, D; Izzy Scane, A; Mary Schumar, A

Notable additions: Hannah Rudolph, M; Niki Miles, A; Jaylen Rosga, M

Initial forecast: The Scane-Coykendall era may have ended in May, but you could argue that the Madison Taylor era is well underway. For all the (deserved) flowers Scane got, it was fellow Tewaaraton finalist and USA Lacrosse U20 member Taylor who led the nation’s No. 2 offense in points (116). Taylor did her damage on 83 goals and 33 assists and enters her junior year poised to extend her streak of 23 straight games with multiple points, which dates back to the final two contests of her freshman season (the national semifinals and championships, no big deal).

Sammy Smith (13 G, 5 A, 17 GB, 110 DC) figures to make an impact all over the field as the midfield leader.

Now, the Wildcats have significant holes to fill — Scane and Coykendall aren’t the only All-Americans to exit. Kendall Halpern was also a force on defense who led the Wildcats with 35 caused turnovers. Carleigh Mahoney is another starting defender Northwestern will need to replace. The return of Jane Hansen (30 CT) should help. Who will play alongside her? Good question. Molly Laliberty’s two-year Division I stint after an All-American career at Division III Tufts has concluded. Cara Nugent (.417 SV %), who started twice and saw action in nine games, is the likely frontrunner.

While the losses are significant, Northwestern is in a similar spot with graduations as most other Big Ten opponents. And the Wildcats ended 2024 head and shoulders above the pack, so they’ll enter the year rightfully favored to reclaim their conference crowns. However, a veteran-heavy Michigan team could pose the biggest threat.

1. BOSTON COLLEGE

2024 record: 20-2 (7-2 ACC)

Last seen: Rallying from a first-half deficit and watching Shea Dolce make an instantly iconic save to preserve a second NCAA championship.

Notable departures: Becky Browndorf, D; Kayla Martello, A; Sydney Scales, D; Belle Smith, M; Ryan Smith, M; Andrea Reynolds, M; Hunter Roman, D; Cassidy Weeks, M

Notable additions: Kelly Blake, M; Giulia Colarusso, M; Hannah Davis, A; Devon Russell, M

Initial forecast: Automatically giving the national champion the No. 1 spot in a preseason ranking is controversial. However, the Eagles deserve it. While there are losses — including much of the starting defense — so many bright players return.

The top three scorers are back in Rachel Clark (78 G, 23 A), Mckenna Davis (26 G, 69 A) and Emma LaPinto (58 G, 28 A). While the defense remains a question mark, Shea Dolce (.470 SV%) will be an anchoring presence.

Dolce was clutch in the waning moments of the NCAA championship game. But a pair of players who stepped up in critical moments — Kayla Martello (a gem in the ACC championship game, too) and Cassidy Weeks (generally the go-to for the game-winner) — are gone. Who will the Eagles look to in 2025? They’ll also miss the veteran, chip-on-the-shoulder presence of Belle Smith, a stalwart in the midfield. Weeks, Ryan Smith and Andrea Reynolds led BC in draws, too, so that is another unanswered question.

But with so much offensive firepower and Dolce returning, Boston College appears primed to play in the season’s final game — again.