2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship with a 14-11 victory over ACC rival Stanford in the quarterfinals on Thursday, May 14, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The No. 2 seed Tar Heels will play No. 3 seed Maryland in the national semifinals on Friday, May 22, at Martin Stadium in Evanston, Illinois.

North Carolina (18-1) moves on to Championship Weekend for the second straight season and the 15th time in school history. UNC is vying for its second straight national championship and the fifth in program history.

Chloe Humphrey and Addison Pattillo each recorded a hat trick and an assist to lead the Tar Heels’ offense. Martha Oakey and Amanda Lawson each scored two goals and assisted on another for Stanford, while goalkeeper Lucy Pearson totaled nine saves.

Competing in the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in program history, Stanford finished its season with a 17-5 record.

ACC teams have won 15 national titles, and at least one ACC team has played in the national title game in 15 of the last 16 seasons. The ACC has had at least one team in the national semifinals in 36 straight tournaments and 41 times overall. ACC teams have made 32 championship game appearances and, with UNC next week, will make their 60th national semifinal appearance.

ACC in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship
Friday, May 8 – First Round
James Madison 13, Notre Dame 12 (in Evanston, Ill.)
Boston College 10, Yale 4 (in Stony Brook, N.Y.)
Clemson 19, Davidson 6 (in Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Stanford 7, Penn State 5 (in Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Syracuse 8, Loyola Maryland 6 (in Annapolis, Md.)
 
Sunday, May 10 – Second Round
at No. 2 North Carolina 17, Clemson 6
at No. 5 Stony Brook 10, Boston College 9
at No. 6 Navy 11, Syracuse 10 (OT)
Stanford 13, at No. 7 Michigan 12
 
Thursday, May 14 – Quarterfinals
at No. 2 North Carolina 14, Stanford 11
 
Friday, May 22 – Semifinals
No. 3 Maryland vs. No. 2 North Carolina | ESPNU | 3 or 5:30 p.m.
Evanston, Illinois
 
All times Eastern