UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women’s lacrosse has named four Nittany Lions as the team 2026 captains. The group includes returners Erika Ho, Kelly MacKinney, and Lauren Tinson, in addition to Syracuse transfer Julia Basciano.
Ho returns for her senior season with the Blue & White after leading the 2025 roster in goals and points. Her point tally of 56 ranked 13th in the Big Ten conference. Ho wrapped up 2025 as one of the nation’s top draw takers and used the season to develop into a lethal shooter. The Frankfort, Illinois, native won 112 draw controls in her breakout season, becoming just the third Nittany Lion to eclipse the century mark. Ho ranked 23rd nationally in draw controls per game, averaging 7.00. The tally ranked fourth in the Big Ten. Outside the draw circle, Ho also led the Nittany Lions in free-position goals (14), game-winning goals (3), and ranked third on the team in ground balls (26). Her goals per game mark (2.88) ranked top five in the Big Ten.
MacKinney was the Nittany Lion's leader in assists with 37, averaging 2.31 per game. Her per game average ranked 28th nationally. She accounted for 43 percent of the Nittany Lions assists in the 2025 season.
Tinson is back for her senior season and is expected to lead the 2026 defensive unit. Of returners to PSU, Tinson tallied the fifth-most caused turnovers last season. One of the best starters in 2025 at ball control, Tinson turned the ball over just twice all season.
Basciano is a redshirt senior transfer from Syracuse University. In her career with the Orange, she appeared in 44 games, accumulating 10 groundballs and causing seven turnovers. During her time in Syracuse, she was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll five times.