CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Poll, released Tuesday by the league office. After winning the ACC championship as well as the program’s fourth national championship in 2025, the Tar Heels finished with 169 total points in the voting by the ACC’s 13 head coaches.
After making its seventh straight trip to the NCAA’s Championship weekend, Boston College was second in the preseason voting with 153 points. Stanford was third with 143 points, while Virginia was fourth with 118 points and Clemson finished fifth with 111 points.
Duke was sixth with 107 points, while Syracuse took seventh with 104 points. Notre Dame (80), Virginia Tech (63), Pitt (50), Louisville (36), Florida State (27) and California (22) rounded out the poll.
The Preseason All-ACC Team features 18 student-athletes, highlighted by the reigning Tewaaraton Trophy honoree, 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 and hold spots on the Preseason All-ACC Team.
The team features 10 players who earned either first, second or third team honors on the IWLCA’s 2025 All-America Team, highlighted by five first-teamers: Humphrey, Dolce, BC’s Shea Baker, UNC’s Brooklyn Walker-Welch and Virginia’s Kate Galica, who earned preseason All-ACC honors at both midfield and as a faceoff specialist.
Eight programs are represented on the Preseason All-ACC Team. UNC leads all schools with four student-athletes on the Preseason All-ACC Team, while Boston College has three. Clemson, Stanford, Syracuse and Virginia each had two honorees, while Duke and Notre Dame each had one.
Eight ACC teams are ranked in the preseason USILA Preseason Top 25. North Carolina is No. 1 in the preseason and is followed by Boston College at No. 3, Stanford at No. 5, Virginia at No. 10, Clemson at No. 12, Syracuse at No. 13, Duke at No. 14 and Notre Dame at No. 25. The ACC’s eight representatives in the poll are the most of any conference.
The 2026 women’s lacrosse season begins this weekend with all 13 ACC programs in action, including Florida State, which debuts as the ACC’s 13th program on Saturday at home against Stetson.
2026 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. North Carolina, 169
2. Boston College, 153
3. Stanford, 143
4. Virginia, 118
5. Clemson, 111
6. Duke, 107
7. Syracuse, 104
8. Notre Dame, 80
9. Virginia Tech, 63
10. Pitt, 50
11. Louisville, 36
12. Florida State, 27
13. California, 22
2026 Preseason All-ACC Team
Attack
Chloe Humphrey, North Carolina
Aliya Polisky, Stanford
Madison Alaimo, Virginia
Midfield*
Natalie Shurtleff, Clemson
Eliza Osburn, North Carolina
Emma Muchnick, Syracuse
Kate Galica, Virginia
Defense
Shea Baker, Boston College
Sam Forrest, North Carolina
Brooklyn Walker-Welch, North Carolina
Goalkeeper
Shea Dolce, Boston College
Draw Specialist
Kate Galica, Virginia
At-Large*
Molly Driscoll, Boston College
Kayla MacLeod, Clemson
Bella Goodwin, Duke
Madison Rassas, Notre Dame
Ava Arceri, Stanford
Coco Vandiver, Syracuse
*Extra player added because of ties in voting.