The dynasty continues for Northwestern Wildcats women's lacrosse — and at the center of it all is Kelly Amonte-Hiller ’92, one of the most accomplished figures in the history of women’s lacrosse.

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern took the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship with a 14–11 victory over North Carolina, earning the program’s ninth national title and adding another remarkable chapter to Amonte-Hiller’s legendary career.

For Amonte-Hiller, the championship represented far more than another win. It was her ninth NCAA title as head coach at Northwestern and her 11th national championship overall, including the two she won as a player at University of Maryland.

A graduate of Thayer Academy, Amonte-Hiller has become one of the defining figures in women’s lacrosse. Before building Northwestern into a national powerhouse, she starred at Maryland in the 1990s, helping lead the Terrapins to NCAA championships in 1995 and 1996. She was twice named National Player of the Year and earned ACC Female Athlete of the Year honors in 1996.

Her success as a coach has been unlike most.

Since taking over Northwestern’s program in 2002, Amonte-Hiller transformed the Wildcats into a national dynasty, leading the team to NCAA championships in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2023, and now 2026. The Wildcats’ dominance under her leadership helped elevate the profile of women’s lacrosse nationally and proved that a powerhouse program could thrive outside the sport’s traditional East Coast strongholds.

After the game, much of the national conversation centered once again on Amonte-Hiller’s legacy. Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in lacrosse history, she has now won national championships across three different decades while continuing to evolve the program and mentor generations of elite athletes.

For Thayer Academy, Amonte-Hiller’s accomplishments reflect the values of being known, connected, and prepared — a lifelong example of leadership, excellence, and sustained success. From her days as a standout student-athlete at Thayer to becoming an iconic figure in collegiate athletics, her impact on the game of lacrosse continues to grow with every championship season.