Northwestern senior attacker Madison Taylor has finally claimed the prize that had eluded her for two straight years. On May 28, 2026, at the 25th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony presented by Stifel — held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. — Taylor was named the women’s winner of the 2026 Tewaaraton Award, college lacrosse’s most prestigious individual honor.
The win caps a legendary career for the Wantagh, N.Y. native, who arrived at Northwestern in 2023 and immediately rewrote the record books. Taylor becomes the fifth Wildcat to ever take home the award, joining Kristen Kjellman, Hannah Nielsen, Shannon Smith, and two-time winner Izzy Scane on a very short and celebrated list.
What Is the Tewaaraton Award?
The Tewaaraton Award is widely regarded as the highest individual honor in collegiate lacrosse and is often compared to the Heisman Trophy in college football. Presented annually to the most outstanding male and female college lacrosse players in the United States, the award recognizes exceptional athletic achievement, leadership, sportsmanship, and overall contribution to the game throughout the season.
Established in 2001 by the Tewaaraton Foundation and first awarded in Washington, D.C., the honor was created to elevate the profile of collegiate lacrosse and celebrate the sport’s top performers. The award carries deep cultural significance because its name comes from the Mohawk word for lacrosse, “Tewaaraton.” Before the award was created, organizers sought and received permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders, acknowledging the Native American origins of the sport and honoring the Indigenous communities that helped shape its history.
Each season begins with the release of a watch list featuring many of the nation’s top college lacrosse players. Throughout the year, a selection committee made up of distinguished college coaches and lacrosse experts evaluates player performances. The list is gradually narrowed through several rounds of consideration before five finalists are chosen in both the men’s and women’s categories. These finalists represent the elite talent in college lacrosse and are invited to the annual awards ceremony.
The selection process considers a variety of factors, including individual statistics, impact on team success, consistency throughout the season, and leadership on and off the field. Winning the Tewaaraton Award often serves as a defining moment in a player’s career and can significantly enhance their legacy within the sport.
Over the years, the award has become one of the most prestigious traditions in lacrosse, celebrating not only athletic excellence but also the sport’s heritage and continued growth across the United States. For players, coaches, and fans, earning or winning a Tewaaraton Award nomination represents the pinnacle of collegiate lacrosse achievement.
Madison Taylor’s Record-Breaking Career at Northwestern
Taylor’s path to the 2026 Tewaaraton Award is one of the most decorated in NCAA women’s lacrosse history. A senior attacker and the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural WLL College Draft, she has been a dominant force in the Big Ten and nationally since her very first season.
In 2025, Taylor shattered the NCAA Division I single-season scoring record by netting an astonishing 109 goals — a number that left the lacrosse world stunned. That jaw-dropping campaign made her a finalist that year but, in a controversial result, North Carolina freshman Chloe Humphrey edged her for the 2025 award.
Taylor returned in 2026 with a mission. By the end of the regular season she had accumulated 80 goals and 111 points, leading the entire Big Ten in both categories. She also added 16 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers, and 46 draw controls — demonstrating the full-game versatility that separates her from most pure goal scorers.
Her career totals are historic: over 325 goals and 455 points, making her the all-time active leader in both categories among all DI players. She is the first player in NCAA history to record career marks of 450 or more points and 200 or more draw controls simultaneously — a combination of scoring and possession play that no one has ever managed before her.
One of the sport’s most durable performers, Taylor tallied at least one point in 64 consecutive games and started all 83 games Northwestern played from the moment she set foot on campus.
Three-Time Finalist — A Rare Distinction
Winning the Tewaaraton Award in 2026 adds another remarkable achievement to Taylor’s already historic collegiate career. Her selection as this year’s recipient comes after becoming one of the rare players in women’s lacrosse history to earn Tewaaraton finalist status three times. Such consistency at the highest level of the sport highlights not only her elite talent but also her ability to maintain excellence throughout multiple seasons against the nation’s toughest competition.
Taylor became the first three-time Tewaaraton finalist since Izzy Scane, who was recognized as a finalist in 2021, 2023, and 2024 and went on to capture the prestigious award twice. Taylor is also the first player since Kayla Treanor and Taylor Cummings to earn finalist honors in three consecutive seasons, a distinction that underscores her sustained impact on the collegiate game.
Her individual accolades in 2026 were equally impressive. Taylor was named the Big Ten Attacker of the Year for the second consecutive season and earned unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten recognition. Beyond personal awards, she played a pivotal role in Northwestern’s continued dominance, helping lead the program to its fourth straight Big Ten regular-season championship and fourth consecutive conference tournament title. Her combination of scoring ability, leadership, and consistency made her one of the defining players of her generation and a deserving recipient of college lacrosse’s highest individual honor.
Northwestern’s 2026 National Championship Season
Taylor’s 2026 Tewaaraton Award victory came on the heels of another milestone achievement: leading Northwestern to a national championship. Just days before being recognized as the nation’s top women’s lacrosse player, Taylor helped guide the Wildcats to the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship, capping off one of the most successful seasons in program history.
On May 24, 2026, Northwestern Wildcats women’s lacrosse defeated North Carolina Tar Heels women’s lacrosse by a score of 14–11 in the national title game. The victory secured Northwestern’s ninth NCAA championship and further cemented the program’s place among the sport’s elite dynasties. Following the win, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller described the campaign as a “dream season,” reflecting the team’s dominance and resilience throughout the year.
For Taylor, the championship carried special significance. It marked her second national title during her collegiate career after helping Northwestern capture the crown in 2023. As one of the team’s leaders and most influential players, she played a central role in maintaining the program’s championship standard and guiding a talented roster through another successful postseason run.
The title game also added an extra layer of meaning to Taylor’s story. Northwestern’s victory came against North Carolina, the same program that produced the player who edged her out for the Tewaaraton Award in 2025. By defeating the Tar Heels on the sport’s biggest stage and then capturing the Tewaaraton Award days later, Taylor completed a memorable redemption arc that defined the 2026 season. The combination of team success and individual recognition ensured her final collegiate campaign would be remembered as one of the most accomplished in recent women’s lacrosse history.
Who Were the Other 2026 Tewaaraton Finalists?
The five women’s finalists for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award were a strong and diverse group that made the competition one of the most interesting in recent memory:
Madison Taylor, Northwestern (Sr., Attack) — The eventual winner and all-time statistical leader among active DI players.
Chloe Humphrey, North Carolina (So., Attack) — The reigning 2025 Tewaaraton winner and 2026 ACC Attacker of the Year, who entered the season chasing Taylor’s single-season goals record.
Reagan O’Brien, Johns Hopkins (Sr., Defense) — The first defender to be named a Tewaaraton finalist since 2021 and the first Johns Hopkins finalist since 2007. O’Brien led the nation in caused turnovers (75) and caused turnovers per game (4.69), becoming a unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten selection and two-time Big Ten Defender of the Year.
Alyssa Chung, Navy (So., Attack) — The first Navy women’s lacrosse player in program history to be named a Tewaaraton finalist. The sophomore led her team with 84 goals and 34 assists for 118 total points in 2026.
Brigid Duffy, Army (Sr., Midfield) — The Patriot League Midfielder of the Year and an all-around workhorse who elevated the Army program throughout her four years at West Point, finishing her career with 70 goals, 28 assists, 51 ground balls, 46 caused turnovers, and 72 draw controls.
The 25th Tewaaraton Ceremony
The 2026 Tewaaraton Awards ceremony carried special significance as it marked the 25th anniversary of college lacrosse’s most prestigious individual honor. Held at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., the event brought together players, coaches, alumni, and supporters from across the lacrosse community to celebrate the sport’s top achievements and honor those who have made a lasting impact on the game.
Beyond recognizing the nation’s best male and female collegiate players, the ceremony highlighted the broader legacy of lacrosse through several special honors. The 2026 Tewaaraton Legend Award was presented to Michael French in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport over many years. Meanwhile, the Tewaaraton Spirit Award was awarded to Jack Emmer, celebrating his dedication to advancing and promoting lacrosse at multiple levels of the game.
The milestone event also featured support from presenting sponsor Stifel. During the ceremony, Chairman and CEO Ron Kruszewski praised the 2026 finalists for their exceptional accomplishments, noting that they had achieved success at the highest level through a combination of talent, determination, and leadership. His remarks reflected the spirit of the Tewaaraton Award, which recognizes not only elite performance on the field but also the character and influence that players bring to their teams and the sport as a whole. The 25th-anniversary celebration served as a fitting tribute to both the game’s rich history and its bright future.
Why Madison Taylor’s Win Matters
Beyond the statistics and the hardware, Taylor’s 2026 Tewaaraton Award win represents something meaningful for the sport. She spent three seasons as one of the best players in college lacrosse, broke records that many thought untouchable, and — after two finalist appearances without a win — finally claimed the crown in her senior year. She leaves Northwestern as one of the most decorated players in program history and in the entire history of the sport.
Her legacy at Northwestern is sealed alongside names like Izzy Scane and Shannon Smith. For fans of the game, her career has been a reminder of what sustained brilliance looks like at the collegiate level — and the 2026 Tewaaraton Award is the perfect final chapter.
Whether you’ve followed Madison Taylor since her freshman year or just discovered her story — drop a comment below and let us know what you think of her Tewaaraton win, and stay tuned as we continue tracking the biggest news in college lacrosse!