University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Women's Lacrosse Signs Nation’s Top-Ranked Recruiting Class
November 13, 2025 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina women's lacrosse program signed the nation's top-ranked recruiting class during the National Signing Day period. Head coach Jenny Levy and the nation's reigning National Coaching Staff of the Year inked 10 of the country's top players to add to the premiere women's lacrosse program in America.
"We're so excited to welcome these young ladies to our Carolina family," Levy said. "We've built such strong bonds with each and every one of them and now we can officially say they are Tar Heels. This is another talented group of smart, driven athletes that will fit seamlessly in Chapel Hill, both within the University and our program. They've accomplished so much during their prep and club careers and now it's their turn to come in and make their mark as we continue to compete for conference and national championships. We look forward to watching them during their senior campaigns and can't wait for them to get here in the fall."
The class consists of three attackers, four midfielders, two defenders and one goalie. The group includes the nation's No. 3 recruit in Cece Powell and No. 4 Sophia Buffardi along with three other five stars and four four-star recruits according to Inside Lacrosse.
Here is a look at the 2026 Signing Class:
Leelé Bigelow
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
High School: Valor Christian
Club Team: Team 180
IG Announcement: @leele_bigs
Sophia Buffardi
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Sayville, N.Y.
High School: Sayville
Club Team: LI Yellow Jackets
IG Announcement: @_sophiabuffardi
Kady Duffy
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-5
Hometown: Queensbury, N.Y.
High School: Queensbury
Club Team: ADK
IG Announcement: @kadyduffyy
Gaelle Jones
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Maplewood, N.J.
High School: Oak Knoll
Club Team: DEWLAX
IG Announcement: @gaellejones_
Ashton Kilfoil
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Charlottesville, Va.
High School: St. Anne's-Belfield
Club Team: Cav Lax
IG Announcement: @ashkilfoil
Emma McCarthy
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-4
Hometown: Washington Township, N.J.
High School: Paul VI
Club Team: SJS
IG Announcement: @eemmamccarthyy
Liv Parmer
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.
High School: Manheim Township
Club Team: Xtreme
IG Announcement: @alivian_parmer
Cece Powell
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Marcellus, N.Y.
High School: Marcellus Central
Club Team: Aces
IG Announcement: @cecepowell3
Bailey Redford
Position: Goalie
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Salem, Va.
High School: Salem
Club Team: YJ South
IG Announcement: @baile.yredford
Elizabeth Smith
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Liverpool, N.Y.
High School: Cicero North Syracuse
Club Team: Aces
IG Announcement: @liz.smith14
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"We're so excited to welcome these young ladies to our Carolina family," Levy said. "We've built such strong bonds with each and every one of them and now we can officially say they are Tar Heels. This is another talented group of smart, driven athletes that will fit seamlessly in Chapel Hill, both within the University and our program. They've accomplished so much during their prep and club careers and now it's their turn to come in and make their mark as we continue to compete for conference and national championships. We look forward to watching them during their senior campaigns and can't wait for them to get here in the fall."
The class consists of three attackers, four midfielders, two defenders and one goalie. The group includes the nation's No. 3 recruit in Cece Powell and No. 4 Sophia Buffardi along with three other five stars and four four-star recruits according to Inside Lacrosse.
Here is a look at the 2026 Signing Class:
Leelé Bigelow
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
High School: Valor Christian
Club Team: Team 180
IG Announcement: @leele_bigs
Sophia Buffardi
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Hometown: Sayville, N.Y.
High School: Sayville
Club Team: LI Yellow Jackets
IG Announcement: @_sophiabuffardi
Kady Duffy
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-5
Hometown: Queensbury, N.Y.
High School: Queensbury
Club Team: ADK
IG Announcement: @kadyduffyy
Gaelle Jones
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Maplewood, N.J.
High School: Oak Knoll
Club Team: DEWLAX
IG Announcement: @gaellejones_
Ashton Kilfoil
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Charlottesville, Va.
High School: St. Anne's-Belfield
Club Team: Cav Lax
IG Announcement: @ashkilfoil
Emma McCarthy
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-4
Hometown: Washington Township, N.J.
High School: Paul VI
Club Team: SJS
IG Announcement: @eemmamccarthyy
Liv Parmer
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.
High School: Manheim Township
Club Team: Xtreme
IG Announcement: @alivian_parmer
Cece Powell
Position: Attacker
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Marcellus, N.Y.
High School: Marcellus Central
Club Team: Aces
IG Announcement: @cecepowell3
Bailey Redford
Position: Goalie
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Salem, Va.
High School: Salem
Club Team: YJ South
IG Announcement: @baile.yredford
Elizabeth Smith
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Hometown: Liverpool, N.Y.
High School: Cicero North Syracuse
Club Team: Aces
IG Announcement: @liz.smith14
Stay up to date with UNC women's lacrosse by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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