Women’s Lacrosse Players Graduate Ahead of NCAA Final
As Wesleyan’s 194th Commencement ceremony began last Sunday, a dozen members of the Class of 2026 were five and a half hours away at the Rochester Institute of Technology. They had good reason to be there: As student-athletes on Wesleyan’s women’s lacrosse team, they were on the verge of capping a record-breaking season with the strongest NCAA Championship finish in program history.
But before the team secured a National Runner-Up finish in its first-ever appearance in a National Championship game, its 12 seniors graduated early during a special commencement ceremony, held at the Frank Center for Public Affairs on May 19. In the moments between the bagpipe processional, the conferring of Bachelor of Arts degrees, and the tossed graduation caps smacking the ceiling, the occasion offered a chance to reflect on all that the student-athletes have achieved on and off the field.
“I saw them arrive on campus as nervous first-years, with big dreams, big expectations, and a lot of uncertainty,” said Kim Williams, head coach of women's lacrosse, before an audience of more than 100 friends, family, staff, and faculty. “Now we all get to sit here today, witnessing the incredibly strong women they’ve become.”
The graduating seniors of the 2026 women’s lacrosse team included Kyra Browne ’26, Adelaide Cummings ’26, Charlotte Elizabeth Dachs ’26, Rebecca Dibble ’26, Lindsey Diomede ’26, Dylan Judith Green ’26, Bridget Alberta Horst ’26, Elle Priesing ’26, Molly Elizabeth Simon ’26, Elizabeth Jessica Stoller ’26, Isabel Weintraub ’26, and Margaret Choate Wilson ’26.
Williams spoke of the students facing tests of their resolve and resilience, from the complexities of being recruited while COVID-19 restrictions were still in place to the challenges of balancing rigorous academics with strong athletic performance. Meanwhile, President Michael S. Roth ’78 spoke about a phenomenon he observed during fastbreaks: Rather than an individual player rushing blindly toward the goal, the squad’s culture emphasizes looking for one’s teammates.
“In a world that rewards atomization and isolation, you have learned such a precious thing—and inspire us to remember it—which is to find your teammates, find your people, and do the things you love that you've gotten better at and that you can share with others,” Roth said.
Despite falling to No. 1 Middlebury in the championship final, the Cardinals found new heights throughout the season. In addition to its first Final Four appearance in seven years—and just the second in program history—the squad’s victory over No. 3 Salisbury pushed its single-season wins record to 19-4.
For the graduating seniors, the special commencement ceremony was a joyful occasion to look back on the hard work behind those superlatives.
“It's been a grind, and it's been so rewarding,” Dibble said. “I think that this is just a moment to celebrate all of that.”
Browne added, “There are so many emotions today. It's definitely bittersweet, but I'm so happy—and I know we all are—to be having this private graduation because it means that everything that we've worked for has finally come true.”
As these student-athletes move on to the next chapter of their lives, their accomplishments so far are signs of successes yet come. “You have represented Wesleyan, this program, and yourselves in the very best of ways,” Williams said. “And I know this: Wherever life takes you next, you are going to make those places better, too.”
