It’s time to bring the chaos and magic of brackets to our game.
Every spring, the sports world stops for a few magical weeks. Office productivity nosedives. Underdogs become legends. Brackets get busted. It’s March Madness—college basketball’s crown jewel—and it captures the hearts of millions. So here’s the real question: Why doesn’t lacrosse have something like this?
It’s time we did.
Lacrosse Has the Talent. It Just Needs the Stage.
Across NCAA Division I, II, and III, men’s and women’s lacrosse teams are stacked with elite athletes. These players train like pros, compete at the highest level, and deliver highlight-reel plays week after week. But unless you’re a die-hard, you might miss it.
A ‘March Madness’ style tournament—bracketed, televised, hyped—would give the sport a national spotlight. Not just a couple of games Memorial Day Weekend. We’re talking Cinderella runs. One-goal thrillers. And the kind of viral moments that make fans for life.
Brackets Build Buzz
Lacrosse already has passionate fans. But a bracket builds more than fandom—it builds investment. Think about it: when you fill out a bracket, you're suddenly watching teams you’ve never heard of like your life depends on it. Now imagine the same for lacrosse.
A 32-team (or even 64-team!) national tournament across divisions could drive school spirit, social engagement, and new viewership in ways we’ve never seen before. Create a bracket challenge, get ESPN or Barstool involved, and suddenly lacrosse isn’t just a niche spring sport—it’s the spring sport.
Underdogs Are Everywhere
The parity in college lacrosse is better than people think. Every year, mid-majors like Richmond, Bryant, and St. Joseph’s push the blue bloods to the edge. Imagine those matchups with everything on the line.
A bracketed tournament would shine a light on programs that don’t usually get ESPN prime time. More exposure means more recruits. More donors. More momentum. And in a sport still growing coast to coast, that exposure matters.
It’s More Than a Game—It’s a Movement
Lacrosse has been growing fast, but to reach the next level, we need a signature event—one that brings fans, players, and alumni together around something bigger than a single game. Think “Lax Madness.” Give it a name. Brand it. Celebrate it. Let fans print out brackets, post upsets on social media, and turn every May into the most unpredictable month in lacrosse.
Let the Chaos Begin
March Madness works because it’s unpredictable, emotional, and electric. Lacrosse already has the product. Now it just needs the platform.
So here’s the challenge to the NCAA, to the networks, and to the lacrosse community:
Let’s dream bigger. Let’s go full bracket. Let’s bring the madness to lacrosse.
Think it’s time for #LaxMadness? Let us know your dream tournament matchups in the comments or tag us on Instagram @lacrosseunlimited. Let’s make it happen.
