Kylee Pickens is an American college lacrosse player who represents Rockhurst University in NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse. Coming from Eureka, Missouri, Pickens made an immediate impact at Rockhurst in 2025, topping NCAA Division II’s draw-control averages and collecting the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Freshman of the Year honour.
Her second season brought further progress, including 41 goals, 206 draw controls, and national All-American recognition in 2026. Before joining Rockhurst, Pickens helped Eureka High School secure its first girls’ lacrosse state championship in 2024. Her sporting history can be traced through school competitions, first-hand interviews, and the statistics recorded during her first two years at Rockhurst.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kylee Pickens |
| Hometown | Eureka, Missouri, USA |
| High school | Eureka High School |
| University | Rockhurst University |
| Sport | Women’s lacrosse |
| Playing position | Midfielder and draw-control specialist |
| Jersey number | 24 |
| College major | Elementary education |
Who Is Kylee Pickens in College Lacrosse?
At Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, Pickens wears number 24 for the Hawks women’s lacrosse programme. She competes primarily as a midfielder while specialising in draw controls, an important part of the game that determines possession following goals and at the beginning of periods.
Winning draws became one of her most valuable contributions during her early seasons with the Hawks. During the 2025 season, she averaged 9.29 draw controls per game, the highest figure in NCAA Division II that year. She also contributed goals, assists, and defensive plays rather than operating solely as a specialist.
Pickens studies elementary education at Rockhurst. Her official university record identifies her as a freshman in 2025 and a sophomore in 2026, with a junior classification appearing on the roster for the 2027 season.
Her school-level honours included All-Conference and All-American selections, followed by recognition from the GLVC and USA Lacrosse after entering college.
How Kylee Pickens Developed Her Lacrosse Skills at Eureka
In a May 2024 interview with Metro Sports STL, Pickens said she was unfamiliar with lacrosse when she entered high school. Melissa Menchella, a teacher who would become her lacrosse coach, encouraged her to try the sport.
She initially joined Eureka High School’s junior varsity team before progressing to varsity competition. Her development included learning the technical demands of taking draws, an area in which she eventually became particularly effective.
Rather than relying on a single technique, she worked on different methods of controlling the ball and directing it toward available space. Pickens told Metro Sports STL that she had studied the techniques of more experienced athletes, including Maryville player Haley Ritchie.
Her preparation also extended to offensive skills. Before her senior season, she spent time improving her shooting accuracy and movement without the ball. During that conversation, Pickens explained that her offseason efforts had helped her recognise what she could achieve on the field.
By 2024, Pickens had received All-State midfielder recognition, an All-American honour, and All-Metro Player of the Year recognition. She had also been part of Eureka teams that reached state championship games without winning the title.
That changed on May 25, 2024, when Eureka defeated MICDS 18–10 in the Missouri Scholastic Lacrosse Association championship game at Missouri Baptist University.
Pickens scored in the opening minute and finished with 10 draw controls. Eureka completed the season with an 18–1 record, capturing its first girls’ lacrosse state championship.
The victory followed a challenging period for the team. Earlier that season, teammate Bailey Boulay had suffered a serious knee injury, leaving Pickens with additional offensive responsibilities. Speaking to Metro Sports STL, she discussed the impact of Boulay’s absence and the adjustments required.
After the championship, Pickens also reflected on reaching three consecutive finals and learning from the team’s previous defeats. She described helping less-experienced teammates prepare for the pressure of competing in a championship game.
Her 2025 Rockhurst Debut and Division II Draw-Control Lead
Pickens entered collegiate lacrosse at Rockhurst in 2025 and quickly established herself as an important contributor in the draw circle.
Of Rockhurst’s 18 matches in 2025, Pickens started 16 and accumulated 167 draw controls. That total produced a season average of 9.29 per game, the leading rate among NCAA Division II players.
Her numbers also included contributions in scoring, assisting teammates, recovering loose balls, and forcing turnovers. She scored 17 goals, registered seven assists, collected 24 ground balls, and caused 14 turnovers.
The GLVC recognised her performances on April 30, 2025, naming her its Women’s Lacrosse Freshman of the Year. She became the first Rockhurst women’s lacrosse player to receive that conference award.
Pickens was also selected to the All-GLVC First Team as a draw specialist.
The GLVC acknowledged two aspects of her debut season: her achievement as a first-year player and her effectiveness in the draw circle.
Pickens’ 2026 Scoring Growth and Draw-Control Performance
By her second year at Rockhurst, Pickens was contributing more goals and assists while maintaining her established responsibilities on draws.
Before the season began, head coach Molly McCourt discussed her importance to the team’s ability to gain possession. In Rockhurst’s February 2026 season preview, McCourt also anticipated greater offensive production from the midfielder.
The subsequent statistics reflected that development.
In 2026, Pickens started all 18 games, scoring 41 goals and providing 11 assists for 52 total points. Her goal tally had increased from 17 in 2025, while her number of assists rose from seven to 11.
Her draw-control figures also improved, increasing from 167 to 206.
| Statistic | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Games played | 18 | 18 |
| Goals | 17 | 41 |
| Assists | 7 | 11 |
| Total points | 24 | 52 |
| Draw controls | 167 | 206 |
| Caused turnovers | 14 | 14 |
Her draw-control average increased from 9.29 per game in 2025 to 11.44 in 2026, although her NCAA Division II ranking moved from first to second.
She also registered 74 shots, including 58 on goal, during the sophomore campaign.
The GLVC recognised her expanded role in its April 30, 2026 awards announcement. Pickens earned First Team All-Conference recognition in both the midfielder and draw specialist categories.
The two selections acknowledged separate aspects of her contribution: her broader involvement in midfield and her specialised work securing possession.
National Lacrosse Honours and Academic Recognition in 2026
Pickens received national recognition before and after the 2026 season.
Pickens entered the 2026 campaign with preseason recognition from USA Lacrosse, appearing in the second-team Division II selections for draw specialists. The preseason selection came after her 2025 freshman campaign, when she led Division II with 9.29 draw controls per game.
Her postseason honours included a place on the IWLCA Division II Midwest Region First Team in May 2026. The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association selected her as a draw specialist, with the GLVC subsequently confirming her regional recognition.
Her draw-control performances also brought postseason recognition from USA Lacrosse, which included Pickens among its second-tier Division II All-Americans in 2026.
These distinctions came from separate organisations. The GLVC recognised her performances within her collegiate conference, the IWLCA selected her for its Midwest regional team, and USA Lacrosse awarded national Second-Team All-American honours.
Another NCAA Division II women’s lacrosse midfielder, Eliana Enners, also earned national recognition from USA Lacrosse and the IWLCA while contributing through goals and draw controls.
Alongside her athletic achievements, Pickens received academic recognition during the 2025–26 academic year.
On June 28, 2026, Rockhurst announced that she was among six university athletes selected for the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Team. It was her first CSC Academic All-District honour.
Pickens studies elementary education at Rockhurst. Across her first two collegiate seasons, she recorded 373 draw controls and 58 goals. As of October 2026, the university’s roster lists her as a junior for the 2027 season.