The 2026 PLL and WLL Championship Series will run from February 27 to March 8, featuring the top four teams from the PLL’s 2025 season as well as four teams from the WLL.
The event uses the sixes format, which will be used when lacrosse returns to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, and has significant differences from outdoor “field” lacrosse and indoor “box” lacrosse.
ESPN analyst Quint Kessenich said, “The sixes format provides an ideal on-ramp for new lacrosse fans because it is similar to basketball or hockey with the 5-on-5 format and goaltenders.” “The flow of the game is similar to hoops. You’ll see organized sets with pick-and-rolls, fast breaks and two-point [lacrosse] shot instead of three [in basketball]. Eliminating long sticks and faceoffs turns the game into an easy-to-consume, fast-paced, high-scoring event.
“The venue is full of energy, with fans up close. The intensity level is high every night. Don’t blink as the action is non-stop.”
The two teams representing Boston won the PLL and WLL Championship Series in 2025. The WLL’s Boston Guard will return to defend their crown, while the PLL’s Boston Canons failed to qualify.
Here’s a look at the schedule, rosters for each team and predictions for which team will win and who will earn the golden stick, courtesy of ESPN’s broadcast team. Fans can follow all the Championship Series action on the ESPN app and PLL And wll Streaming Hub.
predictions
Who is the most interesting player in the PLL Championship Series?
Carolina Chaos forward Jackson Eichner is a compelling player. I’m curious to see how his skill set and size translate to the Sixers format. Last summer, the rookie out of the Army was extremely productive, and if he can get the ball on the right wing, he can put up great numbers. – Quint Kesenich
Good luck defending California’s Andrew McAdory. He asks for a stick – but there are no sticks in sixes. Last summer, McAdory scored 13 goals without an assist. This is the most of any Championship Series participant. With two-way capability and a turbo-charged motor, McAdory could dominate the Championship Series. — Anish Shroff
Which player will win the PLL Golden Stick?
It’s hard to pick against Brian Costabile. It is published by Bijli in this format. Costabile has scored 62 points in his last nine Champs Series games. He is a threat from deep, connecting on 13 two-pointers. He has recorded three double-digit scoring games in the Champ Series. — moneylender
Which team is going to win the PLL Champ Series?
Chaos will win the event. I like roasters. — kesenich
The goalkeepers have a very big hand in this format. Enter Denver’s Logan McEnany. He played all of his games in championship games (four at Maryland, one with the Outlaws). His accurate outlet passing becomes a weapon of defense And Target. While there may not be many of the usual suspects committing crime in Denver, they have a brick wall from the city of glass. He is the best goalkeeper in this tournament so far. Both Colin Kirst and Sean Sconon have shown that strong goaltending play is essential to winning a championship series. — moneylender
Who is the most interesting player in the WLL Championship Series?
Eli Mastroianni does it all. The California Palms star runs the field, wins difficult balls, scores when it matters and wins possession. Simply put – that is who you want to bet on in the game. — sheehan stanwick burch
I’m excited to see Allie Kennedy, a two-way midfielder who has been a star on the international stage for Team USA, now make her WLL debut for the Maryland Charm. In the Sixers 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 defending champion Emily Hawrischuk returning for New York Charging and gearing up for another strong series – my gut feeling is that Boston guard Charlotte North will claim the 2026 Golden Stick Award. The addition of the two-point line is perfectly suited to its strength. His ability to finish in tight spaces and stretch defenses to the outside gives him an edge. — birch
Easy Scan. Such a versatile scorer and she was 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 think the New York Charging are going to make it a battle. I really like their goaltending duo of Madison Doucette and Molly LaLiberty – they can change the tempo of a game in an instant – and an Izzy Scan-led attack is never easy to stop. — birch
I like Boston Guard going back to back. They have the best player on the planet, Charlotte North, and a strong defense. Additionally, they are the only team to return their entire coaching staff. That consistency will give them a head start and an edge! — alter
Schedule
Note: All times Eastern.
Friday, February 27
6 PM: New York Chargers vs Boston Guard (WLL)
8 pm: New York Atlas vs. Denver Outlaws (PLL)
Saturday, February 28
Noon: California Palms vs. Boston Guard (WLL)
2 pm: Maryland Charm vs New York Charging (WLL)
6:30 pm: Denver Outlaws vs California Redwoods (PLL)
8:30 PM: Carolina Chaos vs New York Atlas (PLL)
Sunday, March 1
10:30 am: California Palms vs. Maryland Charm (WLL)
12:30 PM: California Redwoods vs Carolina Chaos (PLL)
Thursday, March 5
6 PM: Carolina Chaos vs Denver Outlaws (PLL)
8 PM: New York Chargers vs California Palms (WLL)
Friday, March 6
6 pm: Boston Guard vs. Maryland Charm (WLL)
8 pm: New York Atlas vs California Redwoods (PLL)
Saturday, March 7
2 pm: WLL Semifinals
6:30 pm: PLL Semifinals
Sunday, March 8
11 am: WLL Championship
3 pm: PLL Championship
Roasters
Boston Guard (WLL)
Rooster
madison ahern
andy aldev
dempsey arsenault
Maddie Burns
Casey Choma
hannah lawyer
kylie dior
Rachel Hall
charlotte north
britney read
courtney taylor
cassidy weeks
jackie wolak
what to know: Charlotte North and Guard won the title last season. North finished third for the Golden Stick with 15 goals, behind Emily Horyschuk (19) and Izzy Skeen (17). Can North win both titles this year?
California Palms (WLL)
Rooster
sammy joe adelsberger
erin bex
Anna Brandt
Kait Devir
Sam Giersbach
Ellie Masera
Ally Mastroianni
taylor moreno
emily nails
gabby rosenzweig
Jill Smith
Caroline Steele
Caitlin Wurzburger
what to know: California’s Taylor Moreno has many interests: She starred for her high school’s football team and earned varsity letters in a total of five different sports – lacrosse, soccer, football, indoor track and basketball. He is also a first-degree black belt in taekwondo, and designed the mural at the University of North Carolina, which his players taped on their way to the field.
Maryland Charm (WLL)
Rooster
sydney black
abby bosco
Aurora Cordingley
grace griffin
Megan Doughty
mackenzie blake
olivia derks
ally kennedy
Sam Swart
Ashley Humphrey
kelly danes
Paulina Difatta
kelly waters
what to know: This will be the WLL debut of Ashley Humphrey, who was the No. 3 prospect on Sheehan Stanwyck 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)
Rooster
meg carney
Erin Coykendall
madison doucet
Lauren Gilbert
Kendall Halpern
emily horyschuk
molly laliberty
Easy Scan
Samantha Smith
katie goodell
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 Chargers roster (Emily Horyshuk and Meg Carney).
California Redwoods (PLL)
Rooster
Josh Balcarcel
Michael Boehm
Connor Cmiel
edan danenza
romper dennis
bj farrare
mat note
Andrew McAdory
chris merley
dylan molloy
carter rice
Brian Tevlin
zack wig
what to know: Romar Dennis was a star in the inaugural Champ Series in 2023, but has struggled with injuries since then. Dennis told PLL’s Phil Shore this He is close to recovery Now the time has come to organize the event for 2026.
Carolina Chaos (PLL)
Rooster
Chris Aslanian
cole williams
ray darth
Austin Cout
Ross Scott
Mark Glicini
jackson eicher
Brendan Nichtern
Shane Knobloch
sergio perkovic
charlie bertrand
jesse higginbotham
Christian Scarpello
what to know: Brandon Nichtern – 2022 Rookie of the Year – returning to lacrosse after military commitments. Fellow West Point grad Jackson Eichler will welcome him to the roster in 2022 after both played together for Army.
Denver Outlaws (PLL)
Rooster
Justin Anderson
Fulton Beman
Graham Bundy Jr.
Ryan Cohen
zach geddes
dylan garger
jack gray
lance madonna
Owen McElroy
logan mckenney
Ryan Tierney
jack vanoverbeke
greg weil
what to know: One key for Denver: goaltender Logan McEnany’s clean saves and outlet passing. McEnany broke the PLL record for clean save percentage in 2025 (60.6%), and this ability will be even more useful in the Sixers, with a smaller zone and the ability to set up transition attacks for his team.
New York Atlas (PLL)
Rooster
tyler carpenter
Chet Comizio
brian costabile
chris davis
kyle jackson
miles jones
jack chorus
max krewsky
Eric Malever
Will Mark
Brian Phipps
michael rexroad
matt traynor
what to know: New York’s Xander Dixon suffered a left foot injury during the US Bank Championship Game last summer, which the Atlas won over the Outlaws. Dixon, unable to play in the Champ Series, will be Atlas’ assistant coach.
