Washington, D.C. — The honor is real. Army West Point women’s lacrosse got national recognition on February 11, 2026 — and then immediately ran into the part of the calendar that doesn’t care.
Seniors Brigid Duffy and Allison Reilly were named to the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, placing two Black Knights among the early contenders for lacrosse’s top individual prize.
It’s a deserved nod. It’s also a reminder: the season doesn’t pause for applause.
Army’s next game is a road trip to No. 2/2 Northwestern on Saturday, February 14, 2026 — the kind of opponent that forces every award conversation to become a performance conversation.
What the Tewaaraton Watch List actually measures
The Tewaaraton Award is widely recognized as the preeminent award in lacrosse, honoring the top men’s and women’s college players in the United States each year.
Founded at the University Club of Washington, D.C., the award was first presented in 2001 with permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders. “Tewaaraton” is the Mohawk word for lacrosse, and the award symbolizes the sport’s Native American heritage.
The Watch List is not a ranking. It’s a snapshot: who is impacting games early, who has the résumé, and who is positioned to carry a team through the toughest part of the season.
Key dates to know:
- Watch List additions: March 5, 2026, and March 26, 2026
- Nominees narrowed to 25 men + 25 women: April 16, 2026
- Five finalists announced (men + women): early May
- Winners revealed: May 28, 2026, at the Tewaaraton Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Black Knight News:
- Byrne, Plunkett Named to 2026 Tewaaraton Watch List — Army’s Leaders Set the Tone Before Yale at Michie
- Army Forward Billy Batten Named Atlantic Hockey Freshman of the Week
- Army Battles Back From Down Three in Overtime Loss to Bentley
- No. 17 Army Women’s Lacrosse Blasts Marist, Sets Sights on Northwestern After Wildcats’ Upset Loss
- Army Wins Series Against RIT Despite Overtime Loss to the Tigers
Brigid Duffy: four straight Watch Lists, built on repeatable impact
Duffy’s name on the Watch List isn’t new — and that consistency is the story.
This is her fourth consecutive season earning Watch List recognition, and last year she climbed from “candidate” to Top 25 Finalist.
That kind of repeat appearance usually comes from one thing: your game translates no matter who you play.
Midfielders don’t get to pick their workload. They’re asked to do everything, often in the same possession:
- initiate offense and keep it organized
- win 50/50 balls and extend possessions
- defend in space and recover when the field breaks open
- manage tempo when the game gets chaotic
Duffy’s value is that she can influence all of those areas without needing the game to be played “her way.” When Army is sharp, she helps keep it sharp. When Army is under pressure, she helps keep it playable.
Allison Reilly: first Watch List nod, immediate proof
Reilly is earning Watch List recognition for the first time in her Army career — and the early-season production explains why she’s on it.
Attackers who score are valuable. Attacks that force defensive decisions are the ones that change games.
Through Army’s first two games of 2026, Reilly has been the type of threat that:
- punishes single coverage
- creates openings when defenses slide early
- turns one defensive mistake into a goal or a free-position look
That’s the difference between “good stats” and “defensive game plan required.”
The numbers — and what they say about Army’s start
Through two games, Duffy and Reilly have combined for:
- 30 points
- 17 goals
- 13 assists
That’s a massive share of production, but the split matters: 17 goals means they’re finishing; 13 assists means they’re also creating.
In plain terms: they aren’t just taking turns. They’re driving possessions.
And it suggests Army’s early identity is clear — this team is comfortable playing through its seniors, and those seniors are rewarding that trust.
Why this matters beyond awards: seniors set the operating system
Awards are individual. Winning seasons are cultural.
When two seniors are producing at this level, it tends to show up in areas fans don’t always track:
- cleaner spacing because teammates trust the next pass
- fewer empty possessions because the offense has a reliable “reset.”
- more composure later because leaders have already been in those moments
Duffy and Reilly are not just “top players.” They’re the stabilizers — the ones who keep Army from drifting when opponents punch back.
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Up next: No. 2/2 Northwestern — the kind of game that defines February
Army heads to Northwestern on February 14, 2026, and the matchup is as straightforward as it is unforgiving.
Games against top-two teams test three things:
- Tempo: Can you play fast without getting sloppy?
- Discipline: Can you defend without gifting free-position chances?
- Finishing: Can you convert the few clean looks you get?
This is where Watch List players separate themselves. Not with volume, but with efficiency — the one extra dodge that creates a step, the one feed that beats a rotation, the one ground ball that becomes a transition goal.
The Watch List is the headline.
Northwestern is the measuring stick.
Bad Dawg Sports – Real Reporting, Real Access, No Fluff!
Black Knights coverage that respects the work. Army WLAX recaps, previews, and cadet-first storytelling — straight to your inbox. Watch List recognition is earned. Road respect is taken. Duffy and Reilly got the nod — now they carry it into Evanston.
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