Madison Taylor Wins 2026 Tewaaraton Award
Northwestern University’s Madison Taylor, a graduating senior in the School of Education and Social Policy, was named the 2026 winner of the Tewaaraton Award, the most coveted individual honor in collegiate lacrosse.
Taylor, the first-ever Women’s Lacrosse League College Draft selection will join the California Palms after graduation.
“Her teammates love her,” Wildcats coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said after Taylor helped Northwestern clinch the 2026 NCAA championship title – the program’s ninth—at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. “She just works so hard every single day in the practice setting. When your best player is your hardest worker, you know you’re in a good space.”
Taylor was a high school senior in Wantagh, N.Y., when she watched the Northwestern women’s lacrosse team fall in the semifinals of the 2022 NCAA tournament to North Carolina. “I can help that team,” she told her mom.
She committed to Hiller and Northwestern without visiting the campus. And less than two minutes into her college debut, the freshman scored the first of five goals in a game that marked her as one of the most promising players in the nation.
Taylor, who studied human development in context, is now of the most decorated lacrosse players in Northwestern history, having led the Wildcats to four national championship game appearances in four years, including national titles in 2026 and 2023.
She is the fifth Wildcat to win the award, and the second from the School of Education and Social Policy. Hannah Nielsen, now head coach at the University of Michigan, won it in 2008 and 2009 while leading Northwestern to four national titles.
Taylor’s career includes the NCAA record for most goals in a season (109 in 2025), and the Northwestern record for points in a season (158 in 2025). She is a three-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Association All-American first team selection, a two-time USA Lacrosse All-American, and a three-time Honda Sports Award finalist for lacrosse.
In 2026, Taylor recorded 97 goals, 42 assists, 23 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers and 62 draw controls in 2026. She was the only player in the country to post more than 100 points and 50+ draw controls this season.
“When Madison gets her hands free, it’s almost always going in the back of the net,” goalkeeper Shea Dolce of Boston College told USA Lacrosse Magazine. “A lot of people can shoot a lefty sweep, but when she has a stick in her hand, she’s almost automatic.”
Taylor scored an NCAA Tournament-high 28 points in four postseason contests, setting an NCAA Tournament career record with 91 points in 16 tournament games.