INDIANAPOLIS (JMU Athletics) – James Madison lacrosse will head to Evanston, Ill. to face in Notre Dame in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship, the NCAA selection committee announced on Sunday night.
The game will be played at the Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, hosted by top-seeded Northwestern, with first draw set for 4 p.m. ET on Friday, May 8. The game will air live on ESPN+.
The winner of the JMU (13-6) and Notre Dame (12-5) will face No. 1 Northwestern (15-3) on Sunday, May 10 in the NCAA Second Round at 2 p.m. ET.
James Madison punched its 11th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship and 22nd berth all-time after capturing its second straight American Conference tournament title. JMU holds a 13-6 record (6-1 American) entering the NCAA Championship.
JMU ranked as high as No. 21 during the regular season and currently sit at No. 25 in the IWLCA Division I Coaches Poll. The Dukes also enter the tournament ranked 15th in the RPI, tied for its highest ranking of the season.
James Madison has won opening-round games in four of their last five NCAA Championships.
JMU’s History with Notre Dame
• Seventh all-time meeting
• Notre Dame leads series 4-2
• First matchup between teams since March 10, 2009
• First time teams will meet in NCAA Championship
• Notre Dame has won both neutral-site matchups, both in Orlando in 2004 and 2009
JMU’s History in the NCAA Championship
• The Dukes make their 22nd appearance in the tournament and their 11th straight.
• JMU holds a 17-20 record in the NCAA Championship.
• The Dukes have made two Final Fours (2000, 2018), capturing the national title in 2018.
— JMU Athletics —
