The Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL) announced Wednesday that it will expand into a full regular season and playoffs beginning in the summer of 2026.
This marks a major step forward for women’s professional lacrosse.
The league’s four founding teams: the Boston Guard, New York Charging, Maryland Charm and California Palms, will compete in a 10-on-10 format across 11 weekends, with every game airing on ESPN networks and the ESPN App.
For New England fans, the Boston Guard is already setting the pace. In the league’s 2025 debut Championship Series, played under the Olympic Sixes format, the Guard captured the inaugural title. That final went down as the most-streamed women’s professional lacrosse game ever on ESPN+, cementing both the team’s and the league’s place in the national spotlight.
The move to a full season also comes with roster growth. Each team will expand to 23 players through an upcoming expansion draft, and the WLL will host its first College Draft ahead of 2026, opening new opportunities for the region’s strong collegiate lacrosse talent pool.
“This is just the beginning,” said league co-founder Paul Rabil. “A full season allows us to bring the sport to more fans, showcase the talent of our athletes and continue growing the game of lacrosse on the global stage.”
Launched in November 2024, the WLL is backed by prominent investors including Joe Tsai Sports, The Chernin Group, Arctos, CAA and The Kraft Group, and operates under an exclusive media rights agreement with ESPN.
The expansion positions the league among the fastest-growing women’s professional sports organizations, joining the WNBA, NWSL and PWHL in building new platforms for women athletes. With lacrosse set to return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the timing couldn’t be better for the WLL or for New England fans eager to watch the Boston Guard defend their title on an even bigger stage.