Northwestern Named Host Of 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship
1/16/2025 11:01:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern University and the city of Evanston, in collaboration with the City of Chicago, have been awarded the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship, the NCAA announced on Thursday.
The semifinals and championship will be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on the campus of Northwestern University on May 22 and 24, respectively.
Evanston will become the 21st city to host the championship since 1982. It will be the first time the championship is played in the Midwest region, and the first time it will be hosted outside of the Eastern Time Zone.
"We are excited to partner with the NCAA to showcase our magnificent campus and hold the NCAA lacrosse championship in our stadium on the lakefront, Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium," said Northwestern President Michael Schill. "This is a tremendous honor, and a fitting tribute to our powerhouse women's lacrosse program, our wonderful student-athletes and our fantastic coach, Kelly Amonte Hiller."
With eight national championships to its name, Northwestern lacrosse has cemented itself as a perennial powerhouse in the sport. Across 15 championship weekend appearances, the Wildcats have advanced to the national title game on 10 occasions, claiming eight titles. Their most recent triumph came in 2023, followed by a runner-up finish in 2024.
"We are honored to bring the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship to Evanston for what promises to be an unforgettable championship experience," said Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson. "This unique, one-of-a-kind facility provides the perfect stage to celebrate the incredible talent and passion of women's lacrosse. We're excited to welcome teams and fans to our campus and share the energy, pride, and spirit that make Northwestern such a special community."
The Wildcats have made 25 NCAA Tournament appearances, including an extraordinary streak of five consecutive championships from 2005-2009, the second-longest in NCAA women's lacrosse history. Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is the all-time leader in NCAA Tournament history in both winning percentage (.824) and tournament wins (56).
"Hosting the NCAA Championship in Evanston is a tremendous honor and a unique opportunity to expand the footprint of women's lacrosse," said Amonte Hiller. "This region's lacrosse culture is thriving, and we're excited to bring the sport's greatest talent to the Midwest. We hope to inspire the next generation of players and fans to continue driving the growth of the game across the country."
Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium was developed as an innovative solution to keep Northwestern football in Evanston as a bridge from its previous stadium to the state-of-the-art $850 million New Ryan Field, scheduled to open in late 2026. The stadium proudly serves as the home of Northwestern lacrosse, as well as Northwestern's men's and women's soccer teams. Located along the picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline with stunning views of downtown Chicago, the venue is adjacent to Lakeside Stadium, home of Northwestern University's national champion field hockey program. Built in collaboration with InProduction, a leading provider of temporary infrastructure for major events, the venue features modern amenities and provides a top-tier experience for athletes and fans.
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts had originally been slated to host the championship, but due to the facility being named a host for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, it became necessary to look at other sites.
Ticket information for the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship will be announced at a later date.
