IRVING, Texas – After rallying for an overtime win to claim the outright regular-season title Saturday, James Madison has earned the  No. 1 seed for the 2025 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship, which takes place May 1 and 3 at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
Ranked No. 11 in this week’s ILWomen and IWLCA polls, the Dukes scored a 14-13 overtime victory against East Carolina Saturday in what proved to be a battle for the tournament’s No. 1 seed. The win improved the Dukes to 12-4 overall and extended JMU’s winning streak to six games.
 
James Madison won its second American Athletic Conference regular-season title in the Dukes’ three seasons in the conference. The Dukes have reached the championship final in each of their first two seasons, but will be looking for their first tournament title.
 
James Madison will face No. 4-seeded Vanderbilt in the tournament opener May 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Commodores played their way into the tournament with a 16-6 win against Old Dominion Saturday. Vanderbilt (9-8) is making its fifth appearance in The American Championship after the Commodores reached the championship final in 2022 and fell in the semifinals in 2019, 2021 and 2024.
 
Thursday’s second semifinal will pit No. 2-seeded South Florida against No. 3-seeded East Carolina at 7:15 p.m. ET. 
 
The Bulls and Pirates finished the regular season tied for second place in The American at 4-2 in conference games, but South Florida earned the higher seed based on its head-to-head win against East Carolina in the regular season.
 
South Florida went 12-4 in the regular season in its first year of varsity competition as the Bulls averaged a league-leading 16.1 goals per game.
 
East Carolina fell to the No. 3 seed after the overtime loss to James Madison Saturday. The Pirates (7-9) have played eight one-goal games in 2025, including each of their last four games, and saw three games decided in overtime. 
 
All games of the American Championship will be available on ESPN+. The most up-to-date information on the tournament will be available on the conference’s Championship Central site.
 
 
 
2025 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
May 1 and 3 | L.R. Hill Sports Complex | Norfolk, Virginia
 

Semifinals | Thursday, May 1 | ESPN+
No. 4 Vanderbilt (9-8) vs. No. 1 James Madison (12-4)	4:30 p.m. ET
No. 3 East Carolina (7-9) vs. No. 2 South Florida (12-4)	7:15 p.m. ET
Final | Saturday, May 3 | ESPN+
Semifinal winners	Noon ET