Georgia Wins WCLA Lacrosse Title 10 Years After First

Ten years after winning their first championship, the University of Georgia women's club lacrosse team proved that patience and perseverance pay off in the best possible way.

The Bulldogs defeated rival Clemson 12-9 in Naples, Florida on Friday to claim their second WCLA Division I championship. What makes this victory even sweeter is how hard they had to work for it.

Georgia entered the tournament as the eighth seed, then knocked off four higher-ranked opponents in a row. After beating Auburn in the opening round, they toppled top-seeded UC Santa Barbara, fifth-seeded Michigan, and finally sixth-seeded Clemson in the championship game.

The final matched the Bulldogs against a familiar foe. Clemson had beaten Georgia twice earlier this season in close games, and this one followed the same nail-biting pattern.

The score was tied six times throughout the game. Early in the fourth quarter, Clemson rallied with three straight goals to knot things up at 9-9.

That's when Georgia took over. All-American attacker Mia Pisani scored her fourth and fifth goals of the game, and midfielder Annie Ritter added another goal plus an assist to seal the win.

Sophomore goalie Emily Weir shut down every Clemson attempt in the final 11 minutes, finishing with 10 saves. Her outstanding performance earned her the tournament's MVP award.

"After losing in the final four last year, I guess this was our revenge tour in 2026," Weir said. "It can be hard at times to find a team that truly meshes well, but we all really enjoy playing together."

Why This Inspires

This championship means something special beyond the trophy. Club lacrosse gives students who aren't on varsity teams a chance to compete at a high level while building genuine friendships.

All-tournament defender and team president Alex Young captured what makes it meaningful. "People don't realize how unique this club lacrosse experience is," she said. "These are my best friends and my favorite people."

The Bulldogs finish their season 12-6, becoming just the fourth team seeded sixth or lower to win the WCLA championship. They took the hard road and made it count.

Georgia also had runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023, making this victory even more rewarding after coming so close.

A decade between championships might seem like a long wait, but this team proved the best things are worth fighting for.