In case you were wondering, the California Palms didn’t forget how the final game of the 2026 WLL Championship Series back in March ended. On Saturday night, the Palms took their home field against the New York Charging, the team that thoroughly dominated them in that final for the title. Adding to the stakes in their first and only matchup of the inaugural WLL season: the Charging came in at 2-0 on the season and could lock up a spot in the WLL Final with a win.
However, this time would be different, as the Palms outscored New York 10-4 in the second half, turning a 6-5 halftime lead into a 16-9 rout of the Championship Series winners. Both teams are now 2-1 on the season, but the Palms move into first place by way of both the head-to-head win and a better goal differential (+8 to the Charging’s zero). The result also keeps the door open for both the Maryland Charm (1-1) and Boston Guard (0-2) to stay in the hunt for a spot in the WLL Final with only three games to play in the regular season.
Palms show they have plenty of weapons with which to win
Leading the way for California were Emma LoPinto (2g, 3a), Sam Geiersbach (4g), and Ellie Masera (4g). Anna Brandt had a hat trick, and Marie McCool added two goals while picking up seven Ground Balls. Goaltender Taylor Moreno was stellar in net for the Palms, making 17 saves on the night. Currently, four of the top six point scorers in the WLL are Palms players. LoPinto continues to lead the WLL in points with 16 through three games. Masera leads the league in goals (11), and LoPinto and Jill Smith share the league lead in assists (7).
If there’s any drawback for California, it’s that they do not play their final regular season game until Week 12, when they face the Boston Guard for the second time this season on August 8. Depending on the outcomes of the other two remaining regular season games, California could already have a spot in the Final, or be in a must-win situation to punch their ticket to the Final, to be played the following week.
With the Palms now in the driver’s seat, what’s next for the Charging?
All is not lost for New York, although missing the chance to claim a spot in the WLL Final prior to the All-Star break is most certainly a letdown. The Charging remain in second place, a half game ahead of the Charm, who they beat a week ago but have to play a second time the weekend following the All-Star break. The Charging also have a better goal differential than the Charm (minus 1). But New York will need to see more production overall from their offense.
Izzy Scane (2g, 1a) was the only Charging player to record multiple goals in this game. Erin Coykendall, Emily Hawryschuk, and Meg Carney were all held to one goal each. Same for rookies Kori Edmonson and Darcy Felter, who had combined for five goals in the Charging’s win over Maryland two weeks ago. Goaltender Madison Doucette stopped 12 shots but allowed 10 goals; Delaney Sweitzer replaced her late in the game. The swap did not change New York’s fortunes, as Sweitzer made just three saves while allowing 6 more Palms goals. If there was a bright spot for the Charging, it was Sam Smith, who won 19 of 21 draw controls while also adding a goal.
