DECATUR, Ala. – The 2026 NAIA Women’s Lacrosse National Championship is set to get underway tomorrow morning, Monday, May 11, 2026, at Jack Allen Sports Complex. The sixth annual national championship features many familiar faces once again, with six of the eight teams having competed in every championship since women’s lacrosse was elevated from an invitational to an official championship sport in the NAIA in 2021.

The two first-time qualifiers for this year’s national championship are Ave Maria (Fla.) from The Sun Conference and Marian (Ind.) from the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

The Sun Conference will be represented in Decatur by three teams: Ave Maria, SCAD Savannah (Ga.), and Keiser (Fla.). The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and Appalachian Athletic Conference will each send two teams, while the Heart of America Athletic Conference is represented by defending national champion Benedictine (Kan.), the only team in the field to have won the coveted Red Banner twice.

Five of the eight teams competing for the title this season sport a goal differential of +137 or better, while Cumberlands (Ky.) brings the nation’s best goal differential to Alabama at +296.

Let’s dive into tomorrow morning’s quarterfinal matchups.

Opening play in Decatur features top-seeded Benedictine (Kan.) against No. 8-seeded Lawrence Tech (Mich.) at 10 a.m. CT. Both teams know what it takes to play on the final day of the season, with BC securing its second championship last year and LTU winning its lone title in 2023. The Ravens boast plenty of playmakers this season, but when it comes to ranking among the nation’s top five across several statistical categories, only two names appear: Kalen Moore and Lorelei Siegel. Moore, the 2025 NAIA National Player of the Year, and Siegel rank among the association’s best in goals, assists, points, and shots.

The second game of the day features No. 4-seeded Keiser (Fla.) against No. 5-seeded Reinhardt (Ga.) at 1 p.m. CT. Once again, two teams are very familiar with the national championship stage, making this a must-watch matchup on the Urban Edge Network. In a game like lacrosse, where goals can pile up quickly for or against a team, just 62 goals separate these two squads. The Reinhardt Eagles hold a slight edge in goals per game over the Keiser Seahawks, 16.93 to 16.61, respectively. This No. 4-versus-No. 5 matchup is sure to bring fireworks to Jack Allen Sports Complex.

As the action rolls into the evening, two more outstanding women’s lacrosse teams will take the field at 4 p.m. CT as No. 2 Cumberlands squares off against first-time qualifier No. 7 Ave Maria. Earlier, we mentioned that the Patriots own the best goal differential in the tournament, but the Gyrenes rank seventh nationally in caused turnovers and shots on goal this season. Ave Maria will need to take care of the ball and continue forcing turnovers to limit UC’s offensive opportunities.

In the 7 p.m. CT nightcap, No. 3-seeded SCAD Savannah faces No. 6-seeded Marian (Ind.), the tournament’s second first-time qualifier. SCAD Savannah has put together a strong season under first-year head coach Tyler Yelken, ranking fifth nationally in goals per game (16.40). The Bees have also been disruptive defensively, sitting fourth nationally in caused turnovers and goals against, while their goalkeepers have stopped nearly 50% of shots faced. Marian has been steady throughout the season, finding ways to win in a variety of situations.

Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time for quicker entry into the stands to cheer on their favorite teams and student-athletes. Fans can also catch all the action — from the opening game on May 11 through the presentation of the coveted NAIA Women’s Lacrosse National Championship Red Banner — live on the Urban Edge Network and on demand through the NAIA Network.