No matter what happens in Chicago, this Colorado women’s lacrosse team already accomplished something nobody in Boulder will ever forget.
A Big 12 Championship.Two NCAA Tournament wins.Sixteen victories. A nine-game winning streak. And now, the first Elite Eight appearance in program history.
That alone would have sounded almost impossible not that long ago.
But this is where sports get dangerous in the best possible way. Once a team starts believing, once a locker room realizes it belongs on the same field as the sport’s heavyweights, expectations naturally begin to shift.
Colorado is there now.
The Buffs are no longer just happy to be part of the conversation. Deep down, this team has started asking itself the same question fans around Boulder are beginning to ask too: Why not us?
Why can’t Colorado be the team that goes to Chicago and shocks the lacrosse world?
As dominant as Northwestern Wildcats women’s lacrosse has looked this season, there is one detail Colorado can carry into this matchup with confidence. The Wildcats’ opening loss of the season came against the Buffs.
That removes the fear factor. It gives Colorado proof. The Buffs already know they can stand toe-to-toe with the No. 1 team in the country because they already did it once before.
And honestly, this matchup almost feels too perfect.
Colorado head coach Ann Elliott Whidden played at Northwestern before eventually building Colorado into a national contender herself. Now she returns to face her alma mater with a trip to championship weekend on the line.
You could not script it much better than that.
Whidden has built something that feels sustainable, not fluky. Colorado defends hard, stays composed and genuinely trusts one another when games get tight. The Buffs have also been excellent at home and on neutral fields this season while continuing to prove they can handle pressure-packed postseason moments.
You can feel the momentum growing around the program too.
The crowds at Prentup Field have been louder. Social media has been buzzing after every tournament win. Athletic director Fernando Lovo called the team “ELITE!” after the Buffs punched their ticket to the Elite Eight. Later today, Colorado will even hold a public sendoff before the team departs for Evanston.
This is a program-changing moment.
And maybe that is why this week feels so emotional for Buff Nation. Colorado lacrosse has spent years climbing toward national relevance. Now the Buffs are one win away from championship weekend with a legitimate shot to bring home a national title.
At some point, every rising program reaches a crossroads. Either you celebrate finally arriving, or you take one more step and start expecting greatness.
Colorado has already made history.
Go to Chicago. Dig deep. And see if this dream season has one more unforgettable chapter left.
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