EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 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.PredictionsWho 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 KessenichGood 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 ShroffWhich 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. -- ShroffWhich team is going to win the PLL Champ Series?The Chaos will win the event. I like the roster. -- KessenichGoalies 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. -- ShroffWho 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 BurchI'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 AlterWhich 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. -- BurchIzzy 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. -- AlterWhich 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. -- BurchI 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! -- AlterScheduleNote: All times Eastern.Friday, Feb. 276 p.m.: New York Charging vs. Boston Guard (WLL)8 p.m.: New York Atlas vs. Denver Outlaws (PLL)Saturday, Feb. 28Noon: 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 110:30 a.m.: California Palms vs. Maryland Charm (WLL)12:30 p.m.: California Redwoods vs. Carolina Chaos (PLL)Thursday, March 56 p.m.: Carolina Chaos vs. Denver Outlaws (PLL)8 p.m.: New York Charging vs. California Palms (WLL)Friday, March 66 p.m.: Boston Guard vs. Maryland Charm (WLL)8 p.m.: New York Atlas vs. California Redwoods (PLL)Saturday, March 72 p.m.: WLL semifinals6:30 p.m.: PLL semifinalsSunday, March 811 a.m.: WLL championship3 p.m.: PLL championshipRostersBoston Guard (WLL)RosterMadison AhernAndie AldaveDempsey ArsenaultMaddie BurnsKasey ChomaHannah DorneyKaylee DyerRachel HallCharlotte NorthBrittany ReadCourtney TaylorCassidy WeeksJackie WolakWhat 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)RosterSammy Jo AdelsbergerErin BakesAnna BrandtKait DevirSam GeiersbachEllie MaseraAlly MastroianniTaylor MorenoEmily NallsGabby RosenzweigJill SmithCaroline SteeleCaitlyn WurzburgerWhat 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)RosterSydni BlackAbby BoscoAurora CordingleyGrace GriffinMegan DoutyMcKenzie BlakeOlivia DirksAlly KennedySam SwartAshley HumphreyKelly DenesPaulina DiFattaCaylee WatersWhat 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)RosterMeg CarneyErin CoykendallMadison DoucetteLauren GilbertKendall HalpernEmily HawryschukMolly LalibertyIzzy ScaneSamantha SmithKatie GoodaleChase BoyleGrace FujinagaEmerson BohligWhat 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)RosterJosh BalcarcelMichael BoehmConnor CmielAidan DanenzaRomar DennisBJ FarrareMatt KnoteAndrew McAdoreyChris MerleDylan MolloyCarter RiceBrian TevlinZach VigueWhat 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)RosterChris AslanianCole WilliamsRay DearthAustin KautRoss ScottMark GliciniJackson EicherBrendan NichternShane KnoblochSergio PerkovicCharlie BertrandJC HigginbothamChristian ScarpelloWhat 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)RosterJustin AndersonFulton BaymanGraham Bundy Jr.Ryan CohenZach GeddesDylan GergarJack GrayLance MadonnaOwen McElroyLogan McNaneyRyan TierneyJack VanOverbekeGreg WeylWhat 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)RosterTyler CarpenterChet ComizioBryan CostabileChris DavisKyle JacksonMyles JonesJack KorasMax KrevskyEric MaleverWill MarkBrian PhippsMichael RexrodeMatt TraynorWhat 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.
