Lehman, Team USA Win 2026 World Lacrosse Championship
Aug 02 | Women's Lacrosse
TOKYO – Melissa Lehman and the U.S. Women's National Team captured a gold medal at the 2026 World Lacrosse Women's Championship on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Team USA defeated Canada, 16-4, in the title game to secure its fifth straight world championship.
With Lehman serving as the team's defensive coordinator, the U.S. allowed just 27 goals across its six games of the championships and did not concede more than seven in a game during its title run. Team USA caused 30 turnovers in its six games and allowed fewer than five goals five different times.
The United States has now won 36 consecutive games in senior field competition, its last loss coming in the 2005 gold medal game against Australia in Annapolis, Maryland.
Lehman was one of four individuals from Rutgers women's lacrosse, along with Stella Quilty (Ireland), Steph Kelly (Australia) and Eileen Ferry (Ireland), who competed or coached during the World Championship, held July 24 through August 2 in Tokyo.
Kelly finished with 11 points on seven goals and four assists in six games to help the Aussies to a sixth-place finish. Ferry captained the Irish to a 12-8 win in their 11th-place game over Wales. Quilty appeared in five games during the tournament, stopping seven shots.
The success of the Scarlet Knights on the international stage represents the positive momentum around the program. Navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country last spring, Rutgers closed the 2026 campaign with its most overall wins (11) and Big Ten wins (4) since 2022. The campaign was capped by the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance under Lehman, where RU delivered a 12-11 win over No. 17 Princeton in the opening round of the championship.
With Lehman serving as the team's defensive coordinator, the U.S. allowed just 27 goals across its six games of the championships and did not concede more than seven in a game during its title run. Team USA caused 30 turnovers in its six games and allowed fewer than five goals five different times.
WORLD CHAMPION 🌎!
— Rutgers Women's Lacrosse (@rutgers_wlax) August 2, 2026
Melissa Lehman & @USALWNT defeat Canada, 16-4, to earn gold at the 2026 @WorldLacrosse Championship!#BxB 🧱 | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/pNKw7oWPCq
The United States has now won 36 consecutive games in senior field competition, its last loss coming in the 2005 gold medal game against Australia in Annapolis, Maryland.
Lehman was one of four individuals from Rutgers women's lacrosse, along with Stella Quilty (Ireland), Steph Kelly (Australia) and Eileen Ferry (Ireland), who competed or coached during the World Championship, held July 24 through August 2 in Tokyo.
Congratulations to Steph Kelly (AUS) & Stella Quilty (IRE) for helping their teams to sixth and 11th-place finishes, respectively, at the 2026 @WorldLacrosse Championship!#BxB 🧱 | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/jRfir0fwoQ
— Rutgers Women's Lacrosse (@rutgers_wlax) August 1, 2026
Kelly finished with 11 points on seven goals and four assists in six games to help the Aussies to a sixth-place finish. Ferry captained the Irish to a 12-8 win in their 11th-place game over Wales. Quilty appeared in five games during the tournament, stopping seven shots.
The success of the Scarlet Knights on the international stage represents the positive momentum around the program. Navigating one of the toughest schedules in the country last spring, Rutgers closed the 2026 campaign with its most overall wins (11) and Big Ten wins (4) since 2022. The campaign was capped by the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance under Lehman, where RU delivered a 12-11 win over No. 17 Princeton in the opening round of the championship.
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