The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2026 All-Conference awards for women's lacrosse. Individually, Meredith's Kenzie Todd was named Offensive Player of the Year while her coach, Lauren Scott, was selected as Coach of the Year. Southern Virginia's Ellie Patterson collected Defensive Player of the Year and Pfeiffer's Quinn Branca earned Rookie of the Year accolades to round out the individual awards. Additionally, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school who their coach felt displayed the best sportsmanship this season.

All awards are voted on by the women's lacrosse coach at each institution.

Todd, a junior attacker from Brookfield, Connecticut, becomes the fifth women's lacrosse student-athlete in USA South history to be named both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in a career. Todd concluded the regular season leading the Conference in goals scored with 77 to go along with 25 assists for a total of 112 points which is second in the League. Todd also totaled 46 ground balls, 29 caused turnovers, and 16 draw controls during the regular season. Within Conference contests, Todd again led the way in goals with 45 to compliment 25 assists, 28 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers, and five draw controls. For her efforts, Todd earned First Team All-Conference accolades for the third consecutive season at attack and was named USA South Player of the Week twice this spring.

Patterson, a senior midfielder from Meridian, Ohio, is the first Knight women's lacrosse student-athlete to be named USA South Defensive Player of the Year. During the regular season, Patterson led the League in caused turnovers with 53, a 4.08 per-game average, while sitting in third in ground balls per game with 4.38. Additionally, Patterson totaled 65 points on 45 goals and 20 assists to go along with grabbing 20 draw controls. Against Conference foes, Patterson again led the way with 41 caused turnovers and was tied for second in the League with 42 ground balls. For her efforts this spring, Patterson earned All-Conference accolades for the third consecutive season, the second straight time as a midfielder adding to a defender nod in 2024. Finally, Patterson was named USA South Defensive Player of the Week twice and Offensive Player of the Week once this season.

Branca, a freshman midfielder from Mays Landing, New Jersey, is first Falcon women's lacrosse student-athlete to be named USA South Rookie of the Year. She finished the regular season leading all Conference rookies in points (73), goals (63), draw controls (93), and ground balls (71). Her draw control total was third in the entire League while her ground ball collection sat second after the regular season. In USA South-only action this spring, Branca was tied for sixth in the League with 33 goals to go along with sitting third in draw controls with 49 and tied for ninth in ground balls with 28. For her efforts, Branca earned Second Team All-Conference honors this season at midfield while also being named USA South Rookie of the Week seven times.

In her 14th season at Meredith, Scott collects her eighth all-time USA South Coach of the Year honor which is the most by a coach in League women's lacrosse history. This spring, Scott led the Avenging Angels to a 14-4 overall regular season record and an unbeaten season in League play for the ninth time under her leadership. With a 9-0 Conference record, Meredith earned its ninth USA South Regular Season crown and have won 23 consecutive regular season contests against League opposition. Finally, Scott will now take her squad into the USA South Tournament in hopes of winning the event for the 12 straight time.

 

Offensive Player of the Year	Defensive Player of the Year	Rookie of the Year	Coach of the Year
Kenzie Todd Meredith	Ellie Patterson Southern Virginia	Quinn Branca Pfeiffer	Lauren Scott Meredith