The new-look American Athletic Conference begins the 2025 women’s lacrosse season Friday, highlighted by a key nonconference game between nationally ranked teams.
All seven teams will be in action in the opening weekend. No. 16 James Madison, the unanimous preseason favorite in The American, highlights Friday’s action with a matchup against No. 4 North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Dukes and Tar Heels opened last season with a thriller that saw James Madison take a 19-18 overtime win.
Two first-year programs make their official debuts this weekend. South Florida will host Kennesaw State Friday as head coach Mindy McCord, who won 240 games and a combined 21 regular-season and conference titles at Jacksonville, brings her breakneck-pace style to Tampa.
Charlotte, which opens at home Saturday against Gardner-Webb, is led by head coach Clare Short, who has won a combined 15 conference titles and made three NCAA Division II final four appearances at Queens. The 49ers will bring a roster that features 13 transfers and 14 freshmen into their debut season.
Vanderbilt, which was picked second in The American preseason poll, brings a veteran squad into its season-opener at Cincinnati Saturday. The Commodores will be led by midfielder Kemper Robinson, who led the squad with 38 goals last year, while attack Maddie Barkate comes in as an impact transfer after she had 119 draw controls with 36 points for Harvard last year.
Temple is the first team in action this week as the Owls head to Delaware for a 3 p.m. ET matchup Friday. Temple looks to replace the bulk of its scoring from last year, but should have a stout defense anchored by goalie Taylor Grollman, a unanimous preseason all-conference pick and The American’s Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
East Carolina opens with an in-state matchup against Queens Saturday. The Pirates return more than half of their scoring from last year as head coach Brittany Dipper begins her second season in Greenville.
Old Dominion opens at home against Longwood Friday afternoon. ODU will serve as the host of the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championship, and head coach Theresa Walton looks for a turnaround year as the Monarchs look to join the tournament field.