Women's May Madness: Favorites, Breakthrough Candidates, Sleepers

We didn’t have to wait for May to enjoy the madness of the 2024 Division I women’s lacrosse season.

Honestly, it’s hardly worth rehashing the relevant results because we’re bound to miss something. Just know this: 2024 is the year to expect the unexpected.

To that end, we’re ready for anything in the NCAA tournament. You have your favorites, sure, but if there was ever a year for a newcomer to sneak its way into the NCAA quarterfinals or beyond, this would be the one.

Let the madness (continue to) ensue.

THE FAVORITES

Northwestern, Boston College, Syracuse, Notre Dame

Defending champion Northwestern is a favorite, as is Boston College, which has been to six straight NCAA title games. Syracuse, too, has the look of a finalist, especially with the momentum it’s gained since the beginning of March.

But we’re here to talk about Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have spent a few weeks at No. 1 in the USA Lacrosse Top 20 this spring, largely on the strength of wins over two other teams in this category (Northwestern and Boston College).

The Irish showed panache in last year’s tournament, riding an emphatic Kasey Choma goal against Florida into the quarterfinals. That budding confidence, combined with savvy transfer portal additions, has Notre Dame primed for a championship weekend push. No one wants to play the Irish in a win-or-go-home game.

BREAKTHROUGH CANDIDATES

Johns Hopkins, Loyola, Stony Brook, Yale

Much was made of Hopkins during fall ball and preseason interviews. The popular opinion was the Blue Jays were due for a breakout in Tim McCormack’s second year as head coach. They were right.

Hopkins lost its last three regular-season games, sure, but it avenged one of those losses by beating Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals. That looks great on its resume, as do wins over Stony Brook and James Madison.

They also played Northwestern to a one-goal loss in the Big Ten title game. A loss, but an impressive showing.

What makes Hopkins such a handful is an offense predicated on not leaning exclusively on one or two players. Ava Angello and Ashley Mackin might be the headliners, but Campbell Case, Maeve Barker and Marielle McAteer can beat you, too, if you let Bailey Cheetham and Abbey Hurlbrink set the table for them.

NEVER COUNT OUT

James Madison, Maryland, North Carolina

Never count out James Madison, Maryland or North Carolina. But seriously, were you? These are championship programs with championship coaches and championship pedigrees, after all.

Let’s dive into the Tar Heels. Their season has been defined by three key season-ending injuries, but let’s not pretend like Jenny Levy’s bunch isn’t talented. Alyssa Long has become a fixture on offense (and one of the best post-goal celebrators in the sport, by the way), and Caitlyn Wurzburger is running a fine offense.

Few conferences test their members like the ACC. After an end-of-season conference gauntlet, North Carolina is as battle-tested as anyone out there. That and a prove-them-wrong attitude make the Tar Heels far from pushovers.

THE REVIVALISTS

Florida, Penn, Virginia

Count Penn among the handful of teams to knock off a No. 1 team in 2024. (Slow clap for Notre Dame and Penn State, which both took down Northwestern.) But you can also count Penn among the teams to lose via upset fashion (14-9 to Princeton on April 3), so the Quakers’ May prospects are up in the air.

Penn last made the NCAA quarterfinals in 2016, though it was nearly there last season. Boston College stood in its way, though, and the Quakers bowed out in the second round. Can Karin Corbett’s team get back over the hump?

A team that boasts the Ivy League’s Defender of the Year (Izzy Rohr) sure seems like a good bet to give it a go.

THIS YEAR’S DENVER

Michigan

Michigan was the early season darling of the women’s lacrosse world behind a smothering defense anchored by goalie Erin O’Grady and somehow unsung Maddie Burns.

The Wolverines’ preferred pace is slow. Hannah Nielsen’s bunch loves to grind it out and trust in its defense to allow the offense to do enough to win. Sound familiar? That kind of reminds us of …

LAST YEAR’S DENVER

Denver

… Denver in 2023. The Pioneers’ run to championship weekend was all about defense, as they didn’t allow double-digit goals until Northwestern beat them in the NCAA semifinals.

Speaking of those Pioneers, they’re back. This spring hasn’t been as awe-inspiring as the last, though. Denver’s proven to be beatable, and its defense isn’t at quite the same level. (Though who can blame the Pioneers for not doing better than a near-historic 2023?). But last year was about establishing belief.

There are some new faces, but the core of last year’s team remains largely in place. Sam Thacker and Trinity McPherson make watching defense fun. It looks fun to play, too.

Sleep on the Pios at your own risk, even if a win over Stanford in round one means Northwestern is looming in round two.