Upcoming Event: Women's Lacrosse at High Point on February 6, 2026 at 6 PM
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6 PM
Women's Lacrosse
at High Point
Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics
Blue Devils Earn Top-25 Preseason Rankings Ahead of 2026 Campaign
1/19/2026 7:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke women's lacrosse begins the 2026 season ranked in multiple top-25 preseason polls, earning a No. 14 spot in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll, while also checking in at No. 17 in the USA Lacrosse rankings and No. 12 by Inside Lacrosse.
Duke is coming off a successful 2025 campaign in which it posted a 14-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in conference play. The Blue Devils' season concluded in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, and Duke finished the year ranked No. 9 in the IWLCA poll.
The Blue Devils return much of their offensive firepower from a season ago, along with welcoming back a veteran backline.
On attack, Duke brings back junior Bella Goodwin, who scored 53 goals last season — the third most on the team. The Blue Devils also return redshirt junior Eva Pronti, the team's top distributor, who set the program's single-season assist record with 49 dimes in 2025.
Junior Caitlin Barrett also returns to the midfield after scoring 13 goals, collecting 14 ground balls and tallying 41 draw controls last season. Junior Ellie White is back in the draw circle after recording a team second-best 76 draw controls in 2025, including a dominant performance in the first round of the NCAA Championship against James Madison, when she posted a career-high 11 draws.
On the defensive end, Duke returns sophomore Amanda Paci, who led the team with 28 caused turnovers and added 26 ground balls last season. Starting seniors Madison Beale and Sydney Smith also bring back experience on the back line after collecting 19 and 16 caused turnovers in 2025, respectively.
The Blue Devils added two attacking transfers during the offseason in sophomore Avery Doran (Brown) and graduate McKenzie Olsen (Syracuse). Doran tallied 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points at Brown in 2025, while also recording eight ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Olsen appeared in 37 games with seven starts during her time with the Orange, collecting 10 ground balls, forcing six turnovers and adding one draw control.
Along with the two transfers, Duke welcomes a 10-member freshman class highlighted by Quinn Whitaker, who ranked No. 5 overall in Inside Lacrosse's Nike Lacrosse/IL Power 100 Freshman Rankings. Cat LeTendre, Caroline McCullough, Taylor Murphy, Stella Pence and Ashly White were all named honorable mentions.
Duke opens its 2026 campaign Feb. 6, traveling to High Point for a 6 p.m. matchup. The Blue Devils' home opener is slated for Feb. 15 against Johns Hopkins at 3 p.m.
For more information on Duke women's lacrosse, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching "DukeWLAX".
#GoDuke
Duke is coming off a successful 2025 campaign in which it posted a 14-6 overall record and a 6-3 mark in conference play. The Blue Devils' season concluded in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals, and Duke finished the year ranked No. 9 in the IWLCA poll.
The Blue Devils return much of their offensive firepower from a season ago, along with welcoming back a veteran backline.
On attack, Duke brings back junior Bella Goodwin, who scored 53 goals last season — the third most on the team. The Blue Devils also return redshirt junior Eva Pronti, the team's top distributor, who set the program's single-season assist record with 49 dimes in 2025.
Junior Caitlin Barrett also returns to the midfield after scoring 13 goals, collecting 14 ground balls and tallying 41 draw controls last season. Junior Ellie White is back in the draw circle after recording a team second-best 76 draw controls in 2025, including a dominant performance in the first round of the NCAA Championship against James Madison, when she posted a career-high 11 draws.
On the defensive end, Duke returns sophomore Amanda Paci, who led the team with 28 caused turnovers and added 26 ground balls last season. Starting seniors Madison Beale and Sydney Smith also bring back experience on the back line after collecting 19 and 16 caused turnovers in 2025, respectively.
The Blue Devils added two attacking transfers during the offseason in sophomore Avery Doran (Brown) and graduate McKenzie Olsen (Syracuse). Doran tallied 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points at Brown in 2025, while also recording eight ground balls and eight caused turnovers. Olsen appeared in 37 games with seven starts during her time with the Orange, collecting 10 ground balls, forcing six turnovers and adding one draw control.
Along with the two transfers, Duke welcomes a 10-member freshman class highlighted by Quinn Whitaker, who ranked No. 5 overall in Inside Lacrosse's Nike Lacrosse/IL Power 100 Freshman Rankings. Cat LeTendre, Caroline McCullough, Taylor Murphy, Stella Pence and Ashly White were all named honorable mentions.
Duke opens its 2026 campaign Feb. 6, traveling to High Point for a 6 p.m. matchup. The Blue Devils' home opener is slated for Feb. 15 against Johns Hopkins at 3 p.m.
For more information on Duke women's lacrosse, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching "DukeWLAX".
#GoDuke
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/ Women's LacrosseAndie Smith, Duke | Interview | CGN
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