Way Early 2025 Rankings: Nos. 15-11 (Division I Women)

College campuses are awakening again with students reporting for the 2024-25 academic year.

But forget the 2024 part. We’re already looking ahead to 2025.

With the launch of a new college year soon comes the beginning of fall ball, meaning it’ll soon be time to count the days before the next college lacrosse season begins.

Here’s our first stab at putting together a Division I Women's Top 25 for 2025.

Up next: Nos. 15-11.

Previous: Nos. 25-21 | Nos. 20-16

15. DENVER

2024 record: 16-4 (5-0 Big East)

Last seen: Falling at the hands of Northwestern in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season, this time a 17-4 drubbing in the second round.

Notable departures: Olivia Penoyer, A; Julia Gilbert, A; Sloane Kipp, A; Jane Earley, A; Trinity McPherson, D; Bryn McCaughey, D; Anna Palmisano, D; Payton Vaughn, M; Sam Thacker, D; Abby Jenkins, D

Notable additions: Lexi Gwaku, G; Megan Morneau, M; Kiri Weber, M

Initial forecast: At first glance? Yes, that’s a lot of production gone to graduation. The offense still has some of the necessary parts to be productive, including another step forward for the already reliable Lauren Black (38 G, 21 A). Expect players like Ryan Dineen (25 G, 32 A), Caroline Colimore (30 G, 6 A), Olivia Ripple (13 G, 3 A) and Kyra Obert (9 G, 7 A) to increase their roles, too.

The defense, though, needs work. How much work? Four of the five defensive starters from the season’s final game are gone, not to mention some defense-first midfielders like Abby Jenkins and Payton Vaughn. Megan Klingenberg (22 GB, 23 CT) is the lone returning starter on the defense outside of goalie Emelia Bohi, meaning Denver’s vaunted zone will be receiving something of a facelift in terms of personnel.

What Denver did better than most teams the past few seasons was force offenses into bad shots late in shot clocks and then turn those opportunities into transition chances. Trinity McPherson and Sam Thacker were keys in that gameplan, though it’s fair to assume that Liza Kelly already has an idea of who the next transition dynamos will be for 2025.

14. STONY BROOK

2024 record: 18-3 (8-0 CAA)

Last seen: Not having enough to beat Syracuse for the second time since March 5 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Notable departures: Ellie Masera, M; Kailyn Hart, A; Alex Finn, A; Charlotte Verhulst, M; Morgan Mitchell, A; Jaden Hampel, M; Clare Levy, D; Erin MacQuarrie, M; Rachel Rosenberg, D; McKenzie Mitchell, D; Emily Manning, G; Aaliyah Jones, G

Notable additions: Charlotte Wilmoth, A; Julia Fusco, M; Hailey Huebner, M; Ava Mark, D; Braeden Siverson, M

Initial forecast: Joe Spallina’s Stony Brook teams have almost always had the ability to retool on the fly. Lose one program-defining star, more or less replace that star with another up-and-coming one. But with the graduation of Tewaaraton Award finalist Ellie Masera, the Seawolves don’t appear to have their next big thing waiting in the wings.

In fact, Stony Brook loses its top six scorers, a problem that obviously extends beyond the graduation of Masera. It also loses Clare Levy, a defensive stalwart, on the other side of the field. Oh, and both goalies who played a majority of the minutes are gone, too.

That makes Stony Brook a little bit of an unknown, though Spallina’s teams have always reveled in that concept. Perhaps Courtney Maclay (14 G, 3 A) and Alexandra Fusco (11 G, 5 A) can be the Seawolves’ next offensive duo, or maybe Isabella Caporuscio (9 G, 3 A) steps up after drawing seven starts a year ago. The addition of Charlotte Wilmoth from UMass at least gives the Seawolves a steady presence on the attack. Defensively, Avery Hines (45 GB, 66 CT) will be the focal point along with Jordan Forte (14 GB), but there are other spots up for grabs.

It would not be surprising for Stony Brook to take some time to find its footing before rounding into typical Seawolves form by the midway point of 2025.

13. LOYOLA

2024 record: 18-3 (9-0 Patriot League)

Last seen: Losing a tough one to Penn in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Philadelphia.

Notable departures: Sydni Black, A; Anna Ruby, A; Regan Kielmeyer, A; Catie Corolla, M; Riley Olmstead, D; Logan Olmstead, D

Notable additions: Morgan Quade, A

Initial forecast: Sydni Black leaves the Loyola offense in the capable sticks of Georgia Latch (62 G, 40 A) and Chase Boyle (85 G, 16 A, 208 DC), who was one of the breakout stars of 2024. Latch, though, should see a significant uptick in opportunities, even from the 141 shots she took in the spring.

Loyola loses some important members of its supporting cast (namely the Olmstead sisters on defense and glue player Anna Ruby on offense), but Jen Adams returns a significant portion of the roster that’s continued to reign supreme over the Patriot League.

And about that. Will it be a Patriot League cakewalk again for a team that has 84 straight regular-season Patriot League victories? Navy is very much on the rise and returns a boatload of talent, and the Mids took Loyola to the brink in the conference tournament title game. That could be one of the main things in Loyola’s way in 2025.

12. NOTRE DAME

2024 record: 16-4 (7-2 ACC)

Last seen: In one of the best games of the NCAA tournament, Notre Dame lost on a Jill Smith buzzer beater by Michigan at Arlotta.

Notable departures: Lilly Callahan, G; Jackie Wolak, A; Madison Ahern, A; Kasey Choma, M; Mary Kelly Doherty, M; Arden Tierney, A; Abby Maichin, A; Keelin Schlageter, M; Kelly Denes, M; Olivia Dooley, D; Aine Maseker, D

Notable additions: Madison Rassas, M; Carson Didden, D; Katie Malleber, A

Initial forecast: There aren’t many teams losing as much high-end talent as the Fighting Irish. They graduated their top point producer (Jackie Wolak), top goal scorer (Madison Ahern), top draw specialist (Kelly Denes), top goalie (Lilly Callahan), top do-it-all middie (Mary Kelly Doherty) and top caused turnover machine (Olivia Dooley). Oh, and that’s not to mention Kasey Choma, who “dabbled” in a lot of everything and at some points was Notre Dame’s top player overall.

So, while 2025 on the surface could be something of a transition year for Notre Dame, there will most assuredly be big moments. Christine Halfpenny’s incoming freshman class is currently ranked fifth nationally by Inside Lacrosse and is highlighted by midfielder Madison Rassas, who will likely have the chance to play from the jump.

She’ll have to contribute on offense, too, because the top six scorers are gone. Kathryn Morrissey (23 G, 3 A) is the top returning goal scorer, leaving plenty of room for players to claim roles.

The defense will go as far as Isabel Pithie takes it in cage. The now-senior was the only other goalie to see work outside of Callahan in 2024, and she did well in a limited sample. In 102-plus minutes spread over eight games, Pithie stopped 47.6 percent of chances.

11. FLORIDA

2024 record: 20-3 (6-0 AAC)

Last seen: Giving Northwestern a legitimate challenge in the NCAA semifinals, a tournament round few expected the Gators to reach.

Notable departures: Maggi Hall, A; Danielle Pavinelli, A; Ashley Gonzalez, A; Emily Heller, M; Madison Waters, M; Sarah Falk, M; Paisley Eagan, M; Hannah Heller, D; Liz Harrison, A; Maria Pansini, D; Georgia Hoey, G; Lara Kology, D

Notable additions: Clark Hamilton, A; Gabrielle Green, M; Jennifer Markey, M; Ryann Frechette, M

Initial forecast: Amanda O’Leary and Florida did the unthinkable last spring, taking a team many had written off before the season even started to the NCAA semifinals. A 20-game winning streak saw the Gators steamroll just about every opponent, with the draw dominance of Liz Harrison (230 DC) leading to possession after possession for Maggi Hall (65 G, 54 A), Danielle Pavinelli (57 G, 41 A), Ashley Gonzalez (35 G, 34 A), Emily Heller (46 G, 7 A) and the rest of the offense.

But each of the aforementioned players has graduated. As have other massive contributors from the midfield — namely Madison Waters, Sarah Falk and Paisley Eagan — and a couple members of a defense that perhaps was underrated as the offense dominated other teams.

That leaves O’Leary in a strikingly similar boat to a year ago, operating with a roster many aren’t thinking much about as fall ball nears. Jennifer Markey transferred in from Syracuse, giving Florida some ACC firepower in its first year in the Big 12, and players like Gianna Monaco (30 G, 10 A) and Josie Hahn (21 G, 1 A) are bound for bigger seasons.

The emergence of Elyse Finnelle in the final 10 games of 2024 helps stabilize the cage, which was one of the bigger questions entering last year. Overall, Florida isn’t unfamiliar with this position. That doesn’t make it any more comfortable, but it does show that the Gators are capable of doing great things with whatever they’ve got.