In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse championship, the University of North Carolina triumphed over Northwestern with a score of 12-8, securing their fourth championship title in the program’s history.
The tournament commenced with the selection show held on May 4, featuring a competitive field of 29 teams. This included 15 conference champions earning automatic bids, alongside 14 at-large selections. The single-elimination format took off on May 9, culminating with the championship rounds at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, from May 23 to 25.
2025 Championship Bracket Overview
Below is a visual representation of this year’s tournament bracket:
➡️ For a printable version and an interactive bracket, click here.
Tournament Schedule
All times listed are in Eastern Time (ET).
- Selection Show: Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m. — ESPNU
- First Round: Friday, May 9 — ESPN+
- Second Round: Sunday, May 11 — ESPN+
- Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 15 — ESPNU
- Semi-finals: Friday, May 23 — ESPNU
Noteworthy first-round match results include:
- No. 6 Maryland 16, Fairfield 7
- No. 7 Yale 12, UAlbany 9
- No. 8 Johns Hopkins 21, Liberty 11
- No. 5 Virginia 20, LIU 6
- Michigan 17, Akron 6
- Penn 16, Army West Point 6
- No. 4 Florida 18, Mercer 6
- Syracuse 15, Brown 9
- Stony Brook 11, Loyola Maryland 8
- Clemson 11, Navy 8
- Princeton 19, Massachusetts 10
- Duke 17, James Madison 10
- Stanford 10, Denver 4
History of the DI Women’s Lacrosse Championship
The 2025 season added another chapter to the ongoing legacy of women’s lacrosse. Last year, Boston College claimed the title by beating Northwestern. Here’s a historical record of champions and runners-up since 2001, when women’s lacrosse gained Division I status:
| Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Boston College | Acacia Walker-Weinstein | 14-13 | Northwestern | Cary, N.C. |
| 2023 | Northwestern | Kelly Amonte Hiller | 18-6 | Boston College | Cary, N.C. |
| 2022 | North Carolina | Jenny Levy | 12-11 | Boston College | Baltimore, Md. |
| 2001 | Maryland | Cindy Timchal | 14-13 (OT) | Georgetown | Johns Hopkins |
➡️ Explore the complete history of women’s lacrosse champions dating back to 1982 for a broader historical context.
