Just minutes after the final whistle of an 18-6 victory against Rutgers on Wednesday, a roaring cheer erupted from the Northwestern huddle. 

The players were cheering on senior attacker Madison Taylor, who had just been announced as the first pick in the history of the Women’s Lacrosse League College Draft. Taylor was picked by the California Palms. 

“If I had the first pick, I would’ve picked her too,” coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said immediately after the game.

Both graduate student goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco and senior attacker Maddie Epke were selected in the fourth round — Cuocco with the 14th pick by the Maryland Charm and Epke with the 15th pick by the Boston Guard.

North Carolina led the draft with four players drafted. NU was the only team with three.

Taylor currently leads the Big Ten in points, goals, shots and shots on goal. Cuocco is second for save percentage and saves per game. Epke is 10th for draw controls, with redshirt sophomore midfielder Madison Smith being fourth.

“I think they’re all phenomenal players and have really showed that playing for us this season,” Amonte Hiller said. “Obviously, really dynamic, Epke, with the draw and her offensive ability, and Jenika, I think she’s showing her abilities.”

The WLL is a relatively new league, and it will be playing its first regular season this year. The league previously ran two 6-vs-6 “Championship Series” in 2025 and 2026. The league will use a 10-vs-10 format for its regular season, as opposed to the 12-vs-12 format that is standard in the NCAA. 

The season starts May 16, which falls before the NCAA DI Women’s Lacrosse Championship Final Four. Should the ’Cats make it, their drafted players will miss the first week of the regular season in Rhode Island. 

There were 12 former NU players in the WLL before the draft. Epke will be joining former Wildcat attacker Niki Miles (Professional Studies ’25), who was selected in the first WLL Supplemental Draft in March, on the Guard. The other 11 play for the New York Charging, including two-time Tewaaraton Award winner Izzy Scane (Communication ’22, Kellogg ’24), who was in attendance at Martin Stadium on Wednesday.

“I’m super excited for that. Never been done before, so it’ll be a cool experience,” Taylor said when asked about the prospect of playing against former teammates in a professional setting.

The four WLL teams will play at Martin Stadium from July 10-12, right after the league’s All-Star Game.

Email: [email protected]

Bluesky: @bensbrackets.bsky.social

Related Stories:

— Lacrosse: No. 2 Northwestern dominates No. 22 Rutgers 18-6 in regular season home finale

— Lacrosse: No. 4 Northwestern defeats No. 18 Penn State 17-12 for Amonte Hiller’s 400th win

— Former Mount St. Mary’s forward Luke McEldon commits to Northwestern