There aren’t many individual accolades in National Collegiate Athletics Association lacrosse, but one of the most coveted is the Tewaaraton Award. At the end of every postseason tournament, only the players with the best performance, from both the men’s and women’s across all three divisions, will be announced as the recipient of the Tewaaraton Award for that year. 

Lacrosse originated from the Haudenosaunee in 1100 and was a way for them to learn stealth, strength, agility and speed. Beginning as stickball, many tribes and communities developed their own set of rules and playing styles. For one nation — the Mohawk Nation — lacrosse is rooted in centuries of tradition, and had seen many variations of playing before taking on its present day form. The award name “Tewaaraton” is the Mohawk “name for their game and the progenitor of present day lacrosse,” as the wooden stick with net baskets and deer hide balls have evolved into the modern day plastic sticks and rubber balls.    

The Tewaaraton Foundation’s mission is “recognizing excellence in the sport of lacrosse by annually honoring the most outstanding men’s and women’s college players and legends of the game” while also “honoring the Native American heritage of the sport” with their awards and scholarships.  

Players like Charlotte North, Taylor Cummings and Hannah Nielsen, who are considered to be some of the best athletes to ever play lacrosse have all won the Tewaaraton Award during their collegiate careers. 

To be eligible to win the award, players must be nominated by their coaches to be put on the Watch List. The Tewaaraton Award’s selection committee then filters through all of the players on the Watch List to choose the top 25 nominees. That list will then be narrowed down to the top five players, who become the finalists to win the Tewaaraton. At the end of the collegiate lacrosse season, an award ceremony is held where the winner of the award is announced. 

While winning the award is a signifier of excellence in lacrosse, the trophy itself also has its own meaning. The Tewaaraton Trophy is made of bronze and was designed and created by Frederick Kail. Kail “captures the exciting spirit and powerful dynamics of lacrosse” and depicts “a single unnamed Mohawk player, dramatically surging to the front” to represent the high level of athleticness and competitiveness that winning the Tewaaraton requires. The trophy is mounted on a hexagonal base that represents the Six Nations of the Iroquois Nation or the Haudenosaunee: “the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora tribes.” With such a rich history, this award is often noted as the “the Heisman of lacrosse” and has been the highest individual honor in lacrosse since its inception in 2001. 

For the 2024 season, the 25 women’s nominees come from 15 different Division I schools. Boston College, University of Michigan and Northwestern University lead the schools with three nominees each, followed by Loyola University Maryland, University of Maryland, University of Notre Dame and Syracuse University with two players each on the list. Of the five finalists from last year, only three are returning players, all three of them making it onto this year’s nominee’s list: Izzy Scane, who won the award in 2023; Isabella Peterson; and Erin Coykendall.

Northwestern University  

Representing Northwestern is Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall, both graduate attackers, returning to the Tewaaraton top 25 nominees list, as well as Madison Taylor, Northwestern’s sophomore attacker. Scane, who is also informally known as “The Scane Train,” produced 64 goals and 14 assists so far this season. She is the previous Tewaaraton Award winner and Honda Sport Award Winner. Coykendall, a 2023 Tewaaraton Finalist and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association First Team All-American, has scored 34 goals and has 41 assists. Taylor was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023, and has 58 goals and 25 assists this year.

The Northwestern Wildcats are last year’s Big Ten Tournament champions and the 2023 national champions. They were the heavy pre-season favorites after retaining much of their starpower. They only had two regular season losses, both huge upsets to the University of Notre Dame and Pennsylvania State University. However, the Wildcats are currently on a five game win streak, and have regained the top spot in the Inside Lacrosse Women/IWLCA Division I Poll.  

Boston College

The three nominees from Boston College are Rachel Clark, a junior attacker who transferred from University of Virginia; Sydney Scales, the senior defender; and Belle Smith, the senior midfielder. Clark has scored 62 goals, has 14 assists this season and was a U.S. Lacrosse Magazine All-American First-Team honoree. Scales has 24 ground balls and 27 caused turnovers this season and was named an Inside Lacrosse/IL Women First-Team All-American in 2023. Smith, who is known to have the ‘total package,’ with 39 draw controls, 34 goals, 12 assists, 17 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers this season. She was a Tewaaraton top 25 nominee last year, and the only player in the nation in 2023 with at least 50 goals, 30 assists, 30 ground balls, 25 draw controls and 15 caused turnovers.

The Boston College Eagles lost the national title to Northwestern last year, but are looking to return to championship weekend after six straight appearances at the championship game. The Eagles have lost three games in the regular season to Northwestern, Notre Dame and Virginia, the latter two being in the Atlantic Coast Conference with Boston College. Boston College is currently ranked the third best team in both the United States of America Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20 and the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll, but the team has always seemed to improve each game and thrives in the postseason. 

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is the final school with three players on the Tewaaraton top 25 nominees list represented by Maddie Burns the senior defender; Erin O’Grady the junior goalie; and Jill Smith the junior attacker. Burns has 31 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers and 18 draw controls so far this season. She was previously on the Tewaaraton Watch List and ILWomen All-America Third Team in 2023. O’Grady, one of the two goalies on the list, has 122 saves for a 0.589 save percentage and a 6.45 goals against average for her best season yet. Smith has 48 goals and 12 assists, along with 47 draw controls this year and was on the IWLCA All-America Second Team last year.

The Wolverines started their season off strong with a win streak of 11. But in the second half of the regular season Michigan suffered losses against Maryland and Northwestern. They are currently ranked fifth in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll. 

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University Maryland is represented by senior attacker Sydni Black and junior midfielder Chase Boyle on the top 25 list. Black was a 2023 IWLCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Teamer and All-Patriot League First Teamer. She has 64 goals, 25 assists and 71 draw controls this season. Boyle was an All-Patriot League First Teamer in 2023 as well, and has 74 goals, 13 assists and an impressive 180 draw controls this year. The Greyhounds have a 14-2 record this year, with losses against Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania. 

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland, a historically dominant program, has two of its players on the Tewaaraton top 25 list in Meghan Ball a graduate defender who transferred from Rutgers University, and Emily Sterling the graduate goalie. Ball, who was the 2023 Big Ten Defender of the Year and USA Lacrosse First Team All-American at Rutgers, has 31 ground balls, 30 caused turnovers and 61 draw controls this year at Maryland. Sterling, the only other goalie on this list, was the 2022 and 2023 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, and has 150 saves for a 0.524 save percentage and an 8.91 goals against average. The Terrapins have struggled to gain momentum this season with a 12-4 regular season record, but are hoping to win their first Big Ten Tournament since 2022.

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame has two of their stars nominated; Kasey Choma, the graduate midfielder and Jackie Wolak, the graduate attacker. Choma was the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2019, is a 2023 IWLCA First Team All-American and is a USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American. She has 47 goals, 22 assists, 20 ground balls and is known as the “heartbeat” of the Notre Dame team. Wolak has 52 goals, 37 assists, 13 ground balls and along with Choma is a 2023 IWLCA First Team All-American and USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American. 

The Fighting Irish have put up strong performances in the past few years, becoming the only non-ranked team to make it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament in 2023. However, this Notre Dame team shocked the lacrosse world when they won against Northwestern 14-10 early on in the regular season. Currently on a ten win streak, the Fighting Irish have only lost to the Syracuse and Virginia teams. This Notre Dame team is also ranked first in the USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20.       

Syracuse University  

Last of the schools with two of their players nominated for the Tewaaraton top 25 is Syracuse, with Katie Goodale the senior defender and Emma Tyrrell the graduate attacker. Goodale has 37 ground balls, 42 caused turnovers, 41 draw controls and is an anchor for the Orange’s zone defense. Tyrrell has 57 goals and 18 assists and is a USA Lacrosse Magazine Third-team All-American. The Syracuse program had a change in leadership recently when Kayla Treanor was named the new head coach in 2021. Since then, the Orange have played very well, making it to the NCAA championship quarterfinals in her first year and the semifinals in her second. Treanor also made program history when the Orange won every single regular season game except for their last, for a 15 game win streak. So far this year, this Syracuse team has struggled a little bit with a record of 14-4, but has made it to their first ACC Tournament Championship game since 2021.  

Duke University

Representing Duke University on the top 25 list is Katie DeSimone, a senior attacker, who has become the backbone of Duke’s offense. A USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American honorable mention, DeSimone has produced 58 goals and 21 assists. The Blue Devils often rely on her to produce plays and goals, and the team has a 10-8 record so far this season. 

University of Florida

Emily Heller, a graduate midfielder for the University of Florida on the top 25 list, is the glue between the offensive and defensive end. Heller has 32 goals, six assists, 19 ground balls, 25 draw controls and is a 2023 IWLCA Second Team All-American. The Gators have been ranked in the NCAA championships for the past three years, and find themselves with a 14-2 record this season. The University of Florida is also number 10 in both the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll and USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20 this season.  

Stony Brook University 

Ellie Masera is a senior midfielder from Stony Brook University on the top 25 list. She is known as a scrappy player who has produced 63 goals, 30 assists, 13 ground balls and 125 draw controls. A USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American in 2023, Masera helped lead the Seawolves to a CAA Championship and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA championship last season, and a 15-2 record so far this season.   

University of Denver

From the University of Denver, graduate defender Trinity McPherson was a huge reason why the Denver program went undefeated for the entire regular season, winning the Big East Tournament and most of the postseason until the semifinals of the NCAA championship, with a 22 game win streak. McPherson’s athleticism helped her achieve 34 ground balls, 33 caused turnovers and 63 draw controls this season, and IWLCA/IL All-American Second Team and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American Second Team honors last year. The Pioneers tried to replicate last year’s success, with a 5-0 conference record but only a 13-3 overall record. 

University of North Carolina

The UNC graduate defender on the top 25 list, Emily Nalls, is a veteran player that was a starter on the team that played a perfect season that ended in a national title in 2022. Nalls, a 2023 Tewaaraton Award Top 25 nominee and 2023 IWLCA First Team All-American has tallied 30 ground balls, 27 caused turnovers and 56 draw controls this season. After graduating much of their starting lineup in 2022, the Tar Heels have struggled to find their rhythm this season with a 10-6 record despite having a hugely talented roster.    

James Madison University 

Isabella Peterson, the lone 2023 Tewaaraton Finalist not from Northwestern, is a senior attacker from James Madison University on this year’s top 25 list. Peterson, an IWLCA/IL Women First Team All-American and USA Lacrosse Magazine First Team All-American, has 56 goals, eight assists and 72 draw controls this season. Peterson’s production this year has only helped her etch her name into program history, as she currently holds the record for most goals all-time in JMU history, 279, most points all-time in JMU history, 339, and most draw controls all-time in JMU history, 312. The Dukes were able to make it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA championship tournament, and currently have a 11-4 record.  

University of Virginia

University of Virginia’s senior attacker Morgan Schwab is another standout player that leads the Virginia offense. Schwab was named to the 2023 IWLCA All-South Region Second Team, and led the ACC and ranked second in the nation in assists per game with 2.72 last year, and currently has 18 goals and 53 assists. The Cavaliers have had some impressive wins over Boston College, Notre Dame and James Madison University, however have fallen short a few times for a 14-4 overall record after getting hit with the transfer of Rachel Clark and the graduation of Jaime Biskup and Ashlyn McGovern. 

Rutgers University 

The last player on the Tewaaraton top 25 is Cassidy Spilis, a graduate midfielder from Rutgers University. Spilis has 68 goals, four assists, 36 ground balls, 31 caused turnovers and 89 draw controls. She is also the program’s all-time leader in goals scored (192) and the 2022 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year. The Scarlet Knights have had a rough season so far with an overall record of 7-9, as they look to repeat previous successes of a Big Ten Tournament championship game appearance and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2022.