Madison Taylor made history as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WLL College Draft. Maddie Epke and Jenika Cuocco also heard their names called, sending three Wildcats into the new professional league.
Northwestern women's lacrosse made history Wednesday. Madison Taylor, the 'Cats leading scorer, became the first-ever No. 1 overall pick in the Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) College Draft, selected by the California Palms.
Taylor, who scored a single-season NCAA record 109 goals in 2025 when Northwestern finished as national runner-up, has continued her dominance in 2026. The senior attacker leads the country with 74 goals in 15 games, cementing her status as college lacrosse's most prolific scorer and a no-brainer pickup for the inaugural WLL draft's top selection.
"It was crazy that it was right after a game," said Taylor, who got the good news after No. 2 Northwestern thrashed No. 22 Rutgers 18-6 on Wednesday. "It was cool to be with my whole entire team after a really awesome win. I'm super excited. I have to go look at the schedule and see what my summer schedule looks like."
Beyond Taylor, two other Wildcats were also selected in the WLL's first-ever draft. Senior transfer Maddie Epke, who joined Northwestern from Harvard this season, was chosen by the Boston Guard in the fourth round with the 15th overall pick. Epke has been a key contributor to the 'Cats' success, providing veteran leadership and offensive firepower.
Graduate goalie Jennika Cuocco was also selected in the fourth round, going 14th overall to the Maryland Charm. Cuocco currently ranks 14th nationally in save percentage (48.8%) and has delivered crucial saves in Northwestern's back-to-back victories over top-ranked opponents this season.
The Women's Lacrosse League, owned by Premier Lacrosse Lacrosse (PLL), was founded in 2025 and features four teams: the Guard, Charm, Palms and New York Charging. The league's establishment was announced by PLL President Paul Rabil on November 13, 2024, during a broadcast of ESPN's Get Up.
Several former Wildcats are already making their mark on the professional level. Izzy Scane captains the New York Charging, while Niki Miles helped the Guard win the first-ever WLL championship in 2025. Former Northwestern goalie Delaney Sweitzer joined the Charging in March 2026.
ESPN holds domestic broadcasting rights to the WLL in the United States, airing select matches on ESPN2 while live-streaming all league games on ESPN+.
With field lacrosse returning to the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles for the first time since 1948, the establishment of professional women's lacrosse creates new pathways for elite players. Northwestern's strong representation in the WLL draft underscores the program's continued production of top-tier talent ready for the professional stage.