FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rochester, N.Y., May 21, 2026 – Rochester is making history this Memorial Day weekend, playing host to three simultaneous national women's lacrosse championships and events across two venues.
NCAA Division II and III Women’s Lacrosse National Championship
The NCAA is hosting a joint championship event in Rochester as RIT’s Judson Stadium will be the site of both the NCAA Division II and Division III Women’s Lacrosse National Championships. Visit Rochester is proud to co-host this prestigious event with RIT at the newly opened Judson Stadium.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the outstanding student‑athletes, coaches, and fans to Rochester for a great championship weekend," said RIT Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Tournament Director Jeff Siegel. "RIT is honored to host an event that celebrates the very best of collegiate athletics, and we can’t wait to showcase both the vibrancy of our city and the character of our campus. Our community takes great pride in creating an unforgettable championship experience, and we look forward to sharing everything that makes Rochester and RIT such special places.”
The final four teams from both Division II and Division III will advance to Championship in Rochester May 21-24, with the National Champions being crowned on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2026.
An estimated 750 attendees are expected to travel to Rochester for the NCAA event, with teams traveling from Florida, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and New York State. Attendees will be utilizing hotels across Monroe County.
2026 DII Women’s Lacrosse Championship Schedule:
- Semifinals: Thursday, May 21
- 4:30 p.m. | No. 1 Florida Southern vs. No. 4 Pace
- 7:30 p.m. | No. 2 East Stroudsburg vs. No. 3 Maryville (Missouri)
- Championship: 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 23 | Live on NCAA.com
- Judson Stadium, Rochester, NY
2026 DIII Women's Lacrosse Championship Schedule:
- Semifinals: Friday, May 22
- 12 p.m. | Middlebury (Vermont) vs. Tufts
- 3 p.m. | Salisbury (Maryland) vs. Wesleyan (Connecticut)
- Championship: Sunday, May 24, 3 p.m. on NCAA.com
- Judson Stadium, Rochester, NY
The championships also carry a strong local connection, with several Rochester-area athletes and coaches competing.
- Kara Reber (Florida Southern Head Coach) is a native of Pittsford, NY and a SUNY Brockport grad
- Danielle Mojsej (Florida Southern) is from Hilton, NY
- Courtney Shute (Tufts Head Coach) is from Pittsford, NY
- Marina Reddington (East Stroudsburg) is from Rochester, NY
- Alexandra Witucki (Pace) is from Rochester, NY and attended Rush Henrietta HS
- Melissa Gyllenborg (Maryville Head Coach) is a Roberts Wesleyan Alum and the former assistant coach at RIT
USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament
During the same weekend that the NCAA Championships are taking place at RIT, the campus of SUNY Brockport will host the 93rd annual USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament, May 23-24. With teams from across the country, the National Tournament, a long tradition in women’s lacrosse, is one of the nation’s marquee events to kick off the college recruiting season. The event features approximately 600 of the nation’s top high school girls’ lacrosse players competing on regional all-star teams from all over the country. Champions will be crowned in three divisions, and all games will be played at SUNY Brockport and streamed live on USALacrosseTV.com
The USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament provides a unique opportunity for college coaches to evaluate recruits in new roles as the players participate in all-star teams as opposed to their high school and club teams.
Combined, these events are expected to generate nearly $2.3 million in economic impact through hotel stays, meals, transportation, retail, and local attraction visits. (Source: Destinations International Economic Impact Calculator).
"This weekend’s robust schedule of national women’s lacrosse events demonstrate why sports tourism is such a vital part of Rochester's visitor economy,” said Visit Rochester president & CEO, Don Jeffries. “The combined impact of the NCAA Division II and III Championships and the USA Lacrosse Women's National Tournament represents nearly $2.3 million in visitor spending for our region — during just one weekend. The Rochester NY Sports Commission continues to deliver for our community, and we're grateful to RIT and SUNY Brockport for being such outstanding partners."
The Rochester NY Sports Commission and Visit Rochester have supported these events from the initial bid process through this week's competition, working together with the collegiate hosts and venues. The Rochester NY Sports Commission is the sports development arm of Visit Rochester and works to attract sporting events to Monroe County and drive the economic impact of sports tourism in our community.
By attracting tournaments, championships, and athletic events to the region, the Rochester NY Sports Commission directly impact the overall economic impact of the tourism industry locally. In Monroe County, tourism generates nearly $1.5 billion in visitor spending, supports more than 18,000 jobs, and contributes $180.1 million in combined state and local taxes.
About Visit Rochester
Visit Rochester is the official tourism promotion agency for Greater Rochester and Monroe County. Visit Rochester is a membership organization with over 400 members representing, lodging, retail, restaurants, services, and community organizations. Working together with our members and partners, we strive to provide the best experience to all visitors to our community, including both business and leisure travelers.
Photo credit: Mikaela Engstrom