SAN FRANCISCO — Five programs will compete for the 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Lacrosse title at Stanford Stadium this week, beginning on Wednesday, May 5 and concluding with the championship game on Saturday, May 8. The winner will receive the Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. 

This year’s field is led by regular-season champion and No. 1 overall seed Stanford, which finished the regular season undefeated (9-0, 7-0 Pac-12) and ranked No. 12 in the final Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll. Stanford’s season has been highlighted by stellar performances from senior attacker Ali Baiocco, who leads the league in goals per game (4.33) and points per game (6.78), and senior goalkeeper Trudie Grattan, who paces the Pac-12 in save percentage (.514) and goals allowed per game (9.37). The Cardinal previously won a Conference Tournament crown in 2018, the first season of Pac-12 sponsorship of women's lacrosse.

The lone quarterfinal match on Wednesday, May 5 features No. 5 California against No. 4 Arizona State at 4 p.m. PT. The Sun Devils defeated the Bears in the teams’ previous two matchups this season, by a combined score of 31-18 — the first season sweep for Arizona State over California. A win on Thursday for the Sun Devils would be their first Pac-12 Lacrosse Tournament victory. The winner of the match will advance to play Stanford in the first semifinal on Thursday, May 6 at 4 p.m. PT. 

The second semifinal is already established, with No. 3 Colorado taking on No. 2 USC on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. PT. The teams split their head-to-head contests during the regular-season, with the Trojans prevailing in Los Angeles, 18-12, and the Buffaloes protecting their home turf, 13-11. USC is the defending tournament champion and defeated Colorado, 12-3, for the 2019 title. 

All four tournament games will be featured live on Pac-12 Networks and the Pac-12 Now App, with Pac-12 Networks’ Troy Clardy and analyst Kara Lentz on the call.