2026 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship Opens Play on Thursday
Dylan Smith
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | WEEKLY REPORT
WATCH – ELON/WILLIAM & MARY | WATCH – HOFSTRA/STONY BROOK
LIVE STATS - ELON/WILLIAM & MARY | LIVE STATS - HOFSTRA/STONY BROOK
RICHMOND, Va. – It is postseason time as the 2026 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship begins on Thursday from Long Island and Elon, N.C.
The South Division’s second seed,
Elon (9-3-5, 4-2-3 CAA), will welcome third-seeded
William & Mary (4-7-5, 3-3-3 CAA) for a 12 p.m. showdown from Rudd Field. Second-seeded
Hofstra (6-6-5, 5-1-3 CAA) will play host to third-seeded
Stony Brook (7-4-5, 4-4-1 CAA) on Thursday in a 2:30 p.m. tilt between North Division foes from Captains Field.
All five matches of the 2026 CAA Women’s Soccer Championship will be streamed live on FloCollege, with Thursday’s First Round being broadcast on the FloSports Channel on Prime Video. Phil Constantino and Tom Verde are on the call for the North Division matchup, while Charlie Wood and Ellie Reasbeck will commentate the action for the South Division contest.
Thursday’s matchup between the Phoenix and the Tribe is a rematch of last season’s CAA First Round contest in the South Division. Looking to become just the fourth CAA team to hoist back-to-back titles, Elon holds a 7-5-2 edge in the all-time series, including victories in three of the last four meetings with William & Mary. In the regular season, the Phoenix scored a pair of goals in the final 15:01 to secure a 2-0 victory over W&M. Elon also picked up a 1-0 triumph in last season’s tournament, needing a fifth-minute strike from Ashlee Brehio to secure the win. The Tribe paces the CAA with 10 conference titles, looking to claim its first since 2011.
Much like the South side of the bracket, Hofstra and Stony Brook will square off in the First Round of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship for the second straight season. In a series that dates back to 2001, the Pride holds a 13-2-1 advantage. The two teams previously squared off on Nov. 1 to decide seeding, watching the Pride earn a 3-0 victory behind a Maggie Peterson brace. However, the Seawolves earned a 2-1 overtime victory in last season’s opening-round game and needed a two-goal effort from Reilly Rich and a seven-save showing from Jona Hennings to advance.
No. 1 seed and North Division champion Towson (9-5-3, 6-2-1 CAA) makes its return to the field for the first time since hoisting the CAA title in 2023. No. 2 seed Hofstra is making its 10th straight appearance in the CAA Championship, while No. 3 seed Stony Brook will play in the tournament for the fifth time in as many years as a league member.
UNCW (11-0-7, 6-0-3) earned the No. 1 seed and the South Division title for the second straight season. No. 2 seed Elon makes its third consecutive appearance in the tournament, while No. 3 seed William & Mary makes its fourth postseason appearance in the last five campaigns.
The Seahawks and the Tigers will await the winners of the divisional First Round matchup. The two programs will host their respective semifinal showdown in a 1 p.m. tilt on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Thursday, Nov. 5 – First Round
G1: No. 3 William & Mary at No. 2 Elon 12 p.m.
G2: No. 3 Stony Brook at No. 2 Hofstra 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8 - Semifinals
G3: Winner of Game 1 at No. 1 UNCW 1 p.m.
G4: Winner of Game 2 at No. 1 Towson 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14 / Sunday, Nov. 15 - Finals
G5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 TBD
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