As the top women’s lacrosse player in the nation, Chloe Humphrey is in a unique position.
As a true freshman last year, Humphrey led the Tar Heels to the 2025 national championship and became the first freshman to win the Tewaaraton Award, given to the nation’s top player, while scoring 90 goals. Now, she’s back as a sophomore and North Carolina currently is ranked No. 1 in the nation.
All that gives Humphrey a high profile, and she’s in a position to help change the landscape of women’s lacrosse when it comes to NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earnings and potentially succeed former USF player Sofia Chepenik as the top earner in women’s lacrosse.
Unlike women’s college basketball players, gymnasts and softball players, lacrosse players traditionally have had limited earnings. Generally, they don’t receive a direct salary as part of their school’s revenue sharing program. NCAA Division I teams are allowed the equivalent of 38 scholarships, but many of those are divided into partial scholarships. Division II teams are allowed the equivalent of 9.9 scholarships.
But women’s lacrosse players can earn NIL money through endorsements, appearances and social media content. And Humphrey is making the most of her status. Already, she has deals with DripDrop and Giggi’s, a protein drink company. With more than two college seasons left to go and the possibility of playing in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Humphrey almost certainly will continue to increase her NIL profile. That kind of exposure could lead to more NIL deals for other top women’s lacrosse players.
Other Notable Women’s Lacrosse Players in the 2026 Season
Madison Taylor – Northwestern
As a junior last year, Taylor set an NCAA record for goals in a season with 109 and set a school record for points in a season with 158. A first-team All-American last year, Taylor was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award in 2024 and 2025.
Her “Maddy T” branded hoods, T-shirts and crewnecks are big sellers at the NIL Store. She also has a deal with the United Women’s Sports NIL Agency.
Shea Dolce – Boston College
This senior is widely viewed as the nation’s top goalie, and she’s been a big reason why Boston College is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Last season, she led the ACC and the entire nation with a .550 save percentage and 202 saves. She was a finalist for the 2025 Tewaaraton Award. In January, she signed an NIL deal with LAX Goalie Rat, in which she provides goalie training content on social media.
Peyton Howell – Tampa
It’s rare for a Division II player to be in the same conversation with top Division I players. But Howell is on that level, and Tampa is far from a typical Division II program.
After spending her freshman year at Louisville, Howell transferred to Tampa and led the Spartans to back-to-back Division II national championships in 2024 and 2025. Last season, she was the Sunshine State Conference Athlete of the Year and was selected as a consensus first-team All-American while scoring 93 goals and collecting 116 points. She’s the only Division II player on this year’s watch list for the Tewaaraton Award.
Darcy Felter – North Carolina
A graduate of William Penn Charter School in suburban Philadelphia, Felter has been a star midfielder for a North Carolina team that won last year’s national championship and is currently ranked No. 1.
Although she sometimes has been overshadowed by teammate Chloe Humphrey, there’s room for more than one star at a program like North Carolina. Felter is off to a hot start in 2026 and recently was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring a career-high five goals in a win over James Madison.
Additional Standouts
- Shea Baker – ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- Madison Alaimo – 80-point scorer in 2025
- Kaitlyn Davies – Preseason All-American
- Ava Angello – 90-point scorer last season
- Ava Arceri – Apparel partnership with Athlete’s Thread
- Haven Dora – 60-assist single-season record
- Uma Kowalski – Elite freshman impact player
Women’s Lacrosse NIL Growth in 2026
While women’s lacrosse still trails sports like basketball and gymnastics in total NIL dollars, the growth curve in 2026 is notable. Elite players at national championship–contending programs are now securing multi-deal portfolios that include hydration brands, performance apparel, training platforms and social media partnerships.
As an equivalency sport, women’s lacrosse relies heavily on partial scholarships. NIL therefore becomes a primary supplemental income stream rather than simply an added bonus.
With national rankings visibility, expanded streaming access and Olympic exposure on the horizon in 2028, the NIL ceiling for top women’s lacrosse athletes is higher than at any previous point in the sport’s history.
Data-Driven NIL Comparison
Here’s how the top tier of women’s lacrosse NIL profiles compare structurally:
Chloe Humphrey (North Carolina)
- National champion
- Tewaaraton Award winner
- Multiple national brand deals
- Olympic upside
Madison Taylor (Northwestern)
- NCAA single-season goal record
- Established merchandise brand
- Agency representation
Shea Dolce (Boston College)
- National leader in save percentage
- Specialized goalie training NIL niche
Peyton Howell (Tampa)
- Division II national champion
- Tewaaraton watch list selection
Athletes who combine championship success, award recognition, statistical dominance and brand alignment are positioned at the top of the NIL earning hierarchy. Humphrey currently checks every major category.
Why This Matters for Women’s Lacrosse
For years, women’s lacrosse operated outside the primary NIL spotlight. Revenue-sharing structures rarely favored the sport, and scholarship limitations capped institutional support.
If Humphrey continues performing at an elite level and expands her endorsement portfolio, she could establish a new benchmark for NIL earnings in women’s lacrosse.
That ripple effect could:
- Encourage more brands to enter the sport
- Increase agency representation among top recruits
- Expand apparel and training-based NIL categories
- Elevate Olympic-cycle marketing campaigns
In short, 2026 may represent an inflection point — when women’s lacrosse transitions from niche NIL participation to a scalable, performance-driven marketplace.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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