Preview for the 2026 PLL, WLL Championship Series: Key players, schedule, predictions

The 2026 PLL and WLL Championship Series runs from Feb. 27 to March 8, featuring the top four teams from the PLL's 2025 season along with the four teams from the WLL.

The event uses the Sixes format, which is what will be used when lacrosse returns to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, and has key differences from outdoor "field" lacrosse and indoor "box" lacrosse.

"The Sixes format offers a perfect on-ramp for new lacrosse fans because it's very similar to basketball or hockey with a 5-on-5 format plus goaltenders," ESPN analyst Quint Kessenich said. "The flow of the game is similar to hoops. You'll see pick-and-rolls, fast breaks and settled sets with two-point [lacrosse] shots instead of threes [in basketball]. The elimination of long poles and faceoffs boils the game down to an easy-to-consume, fast-paced, high-scoring event.

"The venue is supercharged with energy, with close confines for fans. The intensity level is high each night. Don't blink, because the action is nonstop."

Two teams representing Boston won the PLL and WLL Championship Series in 2025. The WLL's Boston Guard will be back to defend their crown, while the PLL's Boston Cannons did not qualify.

Here's a look at the schedule, rosters for each team, and predictions for which teams will win and who will earn the Golden Stick, courtesy of ESPN's broadcast team. Fans can catch all of the Championship Series action in the ESPN App and in the PLL and WLL streaming hubs.

Predictions

Who is the most intriguing player in the PLL Championship Series?

Carolina Chaos forward Jackson Eicher is a compelling player. I'm eager to see how his skill set and size translate into the Sixes format. Last summer, the rookie out of Army was extremely productive, and if he can get the ball on the right handed wing, he could put up monster numbers. -- Quint Kessenich

Good luck defending California's Andrew McAdorey. He demands a pole -- but there are no poles in sixes. McAdorey scored 13 unassisted goals last summer. That's the most of any Championship Series participant. With two-way ability and a turbo-charged motor, McAdorey can dominate the Championship Series. -- Anish Shroff

Which player will win the PLL Golden Stick?

It's hard to pick against Bryan Costabile. He's been lit by lightning in this format. Costabile has tallied 62 points in nine previous Champ Series games. He's a threat from deep having connected on 13 two-pointers. He's registered three double-digit scoring games in the Champ Series. -- Shroff

Which team is going to win the PLL Champ Series?

The Chaos will win the event. I like the roster. -- Kessenich

Goalies have an outsized hand in this format. Enter Denver's Logan McNaney. All he does his play in championship games (four at Maryland, one with the Outlaws). His precision outlet passing becomes a weapon off saves and goals. While Denver won't have many of its usual suspects on offense, they do have the brick wall from the glass town. He is by far the best goalie in this tournament. Colin Kirst and Sean Sconone have both shown that strong goalie play is necessary to win the Championship Series. -- Shroff

Who is the most intriguing player in the WLL Championship Series?

Ally Mastroianni does it all. The California Palms star runs the field, wins the gritty balls, scores when it matters, and locks down possession. Simply put -- she's the one you want with the game on the line. -- Sheehan Stanwick Burch

I'm excited to see Ally Kennedy, a two-way midfielder who has been a star on the international stage for Team USA now makes her WLL debut for the Maryland Charm. In the sixes format, a player as talented as Kennedy on both sides of the ball is a valuable asset. -- Jay Alter

Which player will win the WLL Golden Stick?

Even with reigning champion Emily Hawryschuk returning for the New York Charging -- and poised for another strong series -- my gut says Boston Guard's Charlotte North will claim the 2026 Golden Stick Award. The addition of the two-point line plays perfectly to her strengths. Her ability to finish in tight spaces and stretch defenses from the outside gives her the edge. -- Burch

Izzy Scane. Such a versatile scorer and she was the runner-up in last year's inaugural Golden Stick race. This year I think she claims the top spot. -- Alter

Which team is going to win the WLL Champ Series?

It's hard to bet against the defending champion Boston Guard and their stacked roster, but I have a feeling the New York Charging are going to make this a battle. I really like their goaltending duo of Madison Doucette and Molly Laliberty -- they can change the momentum of a game in an instant -- and an offense led by Izzy Scane is never easy to contain. -- Burch

I like the Boston Guard to go back to back. They have the best player on the planet, Charlotte North, and a strong defense. Plus, they are the only team that returns their entire coaching staff. That continuity will give them a head-start and an edge! -- Alter

Schedule

Note: All times Eastern.

Friday, Feb. 27

6 p.m.: New York Charging vs. Boston Guard (WLL)
8 p.m.: New York Atlas vs. Denver Outlaws (PLL)

Saturday, Feb. 28

Noon: California Palms vs. Boston Guard (WLL)
2 p.m.: Maryland Charm vs. New York Charging (WLL)
6:30 p.m.: Denver Outlaws vs. California Redwoods (PLL)
8:30 p.m.: Carolina Chaos vs. New York Atlas (PLL)

Sunday, March 1

10:30 a.m.: California Palms vs. Maryland Charm (WLL)
12:30 p.m.: California Redwoods vs. Carolina Chaos (PLL)

Thursday, March 5

6 p.m.: Carolina Chaos vs. Denver Outlaws (PLL)
8 p.m.: New York Charging vs. California Palms (WLL)

Friday, March 6

6 p.m.: Boston Guard vs. Maryland Charm (WLL)
8 p.m.: New York Atlas vs. California Redwoods (PLL)

Saturday, March 7

2 p.m.: WLL semifinals
6:30 p.m.: PLL semifinals

Sunday, March 8

11 a.m.: WLL championship
3 p.m.: PLL championship

Rosters

Boston Guard (WLL)

Roster

Madison Ahern
Andie Aldave
Dempsey Arsenault
Maddie Burns
Kasey Choma
Hannah Dorney
Kaylee Dyer
Rachel Hall
Charlotte North
Brittany Read
Courtney Taylor
Cassidy Weeks
Jackie Wolak

What to know: Charlotte North and the Guard won the title last season. North finished third for the Golden Stick with 15 goals, behind Emily Hawryschuk (19) and Izzy Scane (17). Can North pull off both titles this year?

California Palms (WLL)

Roster

Sammy Jo Adelsberger
Erin Bakes
Anna Brandt
Kait Devir
Sam Geiersbach
Ellie Masera
Ally Mastroianni
Taylor Moreno
Emily Nalls
Gabby Rosenzweig
Jill Smith
Caroline Steele
Caitlyn Wurzburger

What to know: California's Taylor Moreno has a great many interests: She kicked for her high school's football team, and overall earned varsity letters in five different sports -- lacrosse, soccer, football, indoor track and basketball. She is also a first-degree black belt in Taekwondo, and designed the mural at the University of North Carolina that its players tap on the way to the field.

Maryland Charm (WLL)

Roster

Sydni Black
Abby Bosco
Aurora Cordingley
Grace Griffin
Megan Douty
McKenzie Blake
Olivia Dirks
Ally Kennedy
Sam Swart
Ashley Humphrey
Kelly Denes
Paulina DiFatta
Caylee Waters

What to know: This will be the WLL debut of Ashley Humphrey, who was the No. 3 prospect on Sheehan Stanwick Burch's 2025 big board. In college she set the NCAA single-season assists record with 88 in 2022, then set a new standard with 90 in 2025.

New York Charging (WLL)

Roster

Meg Carney
Erin Coykendall
Madison Doucette
Lauren Gilbert
Kendall Halpern
Emily Hawryschuk
Molly Laliberty
Izzy Scane
Samantha Smith
Katie Goodale
Chase Boyle
Grace Fujinaga
Emerson Bohlig

What to know: The two-point line is new to WLL this season. During last year's games, there were only 14 total shots from that range (13 yards), and the only two women to score from that distance are on the Charging roster (Emily Hawryschuk and Meg Carney).

California Redwoods (PLL)

Roster

Josh Balcarcel
Michael Boehm
Connor Cmiel
Aidan Danenza
Romar Dennis
BJ Farrare
Matt Knote
Andrew McAdorey
Chris Merle
Dylan Molloy
Carter Rice
Brian Tevlin
Zach Vigue

What to know: Romar Dennis was a star at the inaugural Champ Series in 2023, but has battled injuries since. Dennis told the PLL's Phil Shore that he's close to being back to healthy now in time for the 2026 event.

Carolina Chaos (PLL)

Roster

Chris Aslanian
Cole Williams
Ray Dearth
Austin Kaut
Ross Scott
Mark Glicini
Jackson Eicher
Brendan Nichtern
Shane Knobloch
Sergio Perkovic
Charlie Bertrand
JC Higginbotham
Christian Scarpello

What to know: Brenden Nichtern -- the 2022 Rookie of the Year -- is returning to lacrosse after military commitments. Fellow West Point grad Jackson Eicher will welcome him on the roster after the two played together for Army in 2022.

Denver Outlaws (PLL)

Roster

Justin Anderson
Fulton Bayman
Graham Bundy Jr.
Ryan Cohen
Zach Geddes
Dylan Gergar
Jack Gray
Lance Madonna
Owen McElroy
Logan McNaney
Ryan Tierney
Jack VanOverbeke
Greg Weyl

What to know: One key for Denver: goaltender Logan McNaney's clean saves and outlet passing. McNaney broke the PLL record for clean save percentage in 2025 (60.6%), and that ability will be even more useful in sixes, with a shorter field and the ability to set up transition offense for his team.

New York Atlas (PLL)

Roster

Tyler Carpenter
Chet Comizio
Bryan Costabile
Chris Davis
Kyle Jackson
Myles Jones
Jack Koras
Max Krevsky
Eric Malever
Will Mark
Brian Phipps
Michael Rexrode
Matt Traynor

What to know: New York's Xander Dickson suffered a left leg injury during the U.S. Bank Championship game last summer, which the Atlas won over the Outlaws. Unable to play at the Champ Series, Dickson will be an assistant coach for the Atlas.