CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Moving into the second week of the regular season, Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse begins league play this week with six conference games scheduled. The early start to conference play comes as the ACC features a 10-game conference schedule for the first time since 2021.
The opening-week slate of ACC play features a trio of top-20 matchups. Top-ranked North Carolina travels to No. 13 Syracuse at 2:30 p.m. Friday, with the game airing on ACC Network. No. 16 Notre Dame visits No. 3 Boston College at 4 p.m. Friday on ACCNX, and No. 4 Stanford travels to No. 9 Clemson at noon Saturday on ACCNX.
Off to a 2-0 start in its inaugural season, Florida State hits the road for the first time this weekend, starting Friday with its league opener at California.
Eight ACC teams are ranked among the top 16 teams in the latest IWLCA poll, led by North Carolina at No. 1. The Tar Heels are followed in the IWLCA poll by No. 3 Boston College, No. 4 Stanford, No. 9 Clemson, No. 12 Virginia, No. 13 Syracuse, No. 14 Duke and No. 16 Notre Dame. The ACC has the most teams in the poll among all conferences.
Upcoming Schedule
Thursday, February 12
No. 14/13 Duke at Pitt | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
Friday, February 13
No. 1/1 North Carolina at No. 13/14 Syracuse | 2:30 p.m. | ACCN
No. 16/16 Notre Dame at No. 3/3 Boston College | 4 p.m. | ACCNX
Florida State at California | 6 p.m. | ACCNX
Saturday, February 14
Louisville at Virginia Tech | 11 a.m. | ACCNX
No. 4/5 Stanford at No. 9/8 Clemson | Noon | ACCNX
No. 12/15 Virginia at No. 6/7 Maryland | Noon | BTN+
Sunday, February 15
No. 16/16 Notre Dame at No. 25/23 Harvard | Noon | NESN
Florida State at UC Davis | 2 p.m. | YouTube
No. 8/9 Johns Hopkins at No. 14/13 Duke | 3 p.m. | ACCNX
Monday, February 16
Stanford at Vanderbilt | Noon | ESPN+
Tuesday, February 17
VCU at Virginia Tech | 1 p.m. | ACCNX
Clemson at Queens | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Wednesday, February 18
Kent State at Louisville | Noon | ACCNX
Pitt at Penn State | 4 p.m. | BTN+
Virginia at Liberty | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Thursday, February 19
California at Oregon | 3 p.m. | BTN+
All times Eastern.
Rankings: IWLCA/Inside Lacrosse
Noting ACC Women's Lacrosse
• Now in its 30th season, ACC women's lacrosse expanded to 13 teams this year, as Florida State competes in its inaugural season.
• 19 ACC players were named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award. That is the most of any conference.
• Reigning ACC and NCAA champion North Carolina is the preseason favorite to win the 2026 ACC Championship, following a vote of the ACC’s head coaches. The Tar Heels also put a league-best four players on the Preseason All-ACC Team.
• The Preseason All-ACC Team is highlighted by the reigning Tewaaraton Trophy winner, Chloe Humphrey of North Carolina. In her freshman season, Humphrey also won the 2025 IWLCA National Player and Attacker of the Year honors.
• UNC’s Sam Forrest (IWLCA National Defender of the Year) and Boston College’s Shea Dolce (IWLCA National Goalkeeper of the Year) also return this season.
• 32 ACC players were named 2026 Preseason All-Americans by USA Lacrosse Magazine, including six first-teamers, most of any conference. North Carolina led all ACC programs with six preseason All-Americans.
• 21 ACC women's lacrosse games are scheduled for linear television, including 18 on ACC Network and three on ESPNU. All seven games of the ACC Championship will air on ACC Network.
• Sixteen current or former ACC players are part of the 22-woman roster for the 2026 U.S. World Lacrosse Championship Team, announced Thursday. The championship will be contested July 24-August 2 in Tokyo. The team will be coached by current Boston College head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein.
• For the first time, ACC teams will play a 10-game conference schedule this season. The conference tournament features the top eight teams in the final standings, competing April 22-26 at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.
• North Carolina won its fourth national championship in program history in 2025, completing an undefeated season with a 12-8 victory over Northwestern in the title game.
• Since the ACC began sponsoring women's lacrosse in 1997, ACC teams have won 14 NCAA titles, including four of the last five.
• With Boston College and North Carolina in 2025, the ACC had at least two teams competing in the NCAA's Championship Weekend for the 20th time in league history, including the seventh straight.