Will Donovan is an American lacrosse player who won two NCAA national championships with the University of Notre Dame before joining the Boston Cannons in 2026. Known for his defensive role as a long-stick midfielder, he earned four consecutive All-ACC selections and multiple All-America honours during his collegiate career.
Originally from Greenwich, Connecticut, Donovan attended Brunswick School before joining Notre Dame in 2022. His career includes national championship contributions, individual defensive achievements, academic recognition, and selection for the United States men’s national lacrosse programme.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Will Donovan |
| Hometown | Greenwich, Connecticut, USA |
| Profession | Professional lacrosse player |
| Playing Position | Long-stick midfielder / Defender |
| Education | Brunswick School; University of Notre Dame |
| College Team | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
| National Championships | NCAA titles in 2023 and 2024 |
| Professional Team | Boston Cannons (PLL) |
Who Is Will Donovan in Lacrosse?
Will Donovan is a former Notre Dame men’s lacrosse player who established his collegiate career as a long-stick midfielder, a defensive position that involves disrupting opposing attacks, recovering loose balls, and helping the team regain possession.
He represented Notre Dame from the 2023 through 2026 seasons, having arrived at the university in autumn 2022. During those four seasons, he received All-ACC recognition every year and earned All-America honours from established lacrosse organisations.
His most significant team achievements came in 2023 and 2024, when Notre Dame won consecutive NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse national championships.
Donovan also studied finance at Notre Dame. In 2026, he was named the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year, adding academic recognition to his sporting record.
Donovan entered professional lacrosse with the Boston Cannons, who selected him 15th overall in the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League College Draft.
How Will Donovan Earn His Place at Notre Dame
Donovan attended Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, where his sporting background included lacrosse, hockey, and wrestling.
His recruitment into college lacrosse was less straightforward than that of some highly recruited Division I athletes.
In an interview published by Notre Dame Athletics on 22 April 2026, he recalled receiving limited attention from major college lacrosse programmes despite wanting to compete at that level.
In January 2020, Donovan attended a Notre Dame lacrosse prospect event and subsequently received an opportunity to join the university’s programme.
He arrived at Notre Dame in autumn 2022.
In the same interview, Donovan credited his experience in multiple sports with contributing to his athletic development. Hockey and wrestling formed part of his sporting background alongside lacrosse, giving him experience in different competitive environments before college.
His transition to Notre Dame also involved learning from established defensive teammates. He acknowledged the influence of more experienced players who helped him adjust to the demands of collegiate competition.
By his first year at Notre Dame, Donovan was already contributing regularly to the team’s defence.
Will Donovan’s Role in Notre Dame’s Consecutive NCAA Championships
Donovan became an important member of Notre Dame’s defensive unit during his first collegiate season in 2023.
During his debut season in 2023, Donovan played every one of Notre Dame’s 16 games. He finished with 27 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers, and two assists, while also receiving All-ACC recognition and an honourable mention from USILA’s All-America selections.
Notre Dame identified him as the only freshman and the only long-stick midfielder selected to the conference team that year.
One of his most notable contributions came during the NCAA semifinal against Virginia on 27 May 2023. In overtime, Donovan disrupted a contested ground ball following the faceoff, helping Notre Dame secure possession before Brian Tevlin scored the winning goal.
The Fighting Irish went on to defeat Duke in the 2023 final, bringing the men’s lacrosse programme its inaugural NCAA championship.
His second season brought further defensive responsibility.
In 2024, Donovan played all 17 games and registered 33 ground balls, 21 caused turnovers, and two goals. His caused-turnover total was the highest on the Notre Dame roster.
He also began contributing directly to the scoring record. Cornell was the opponent when Donovan registered his first goal for Notre Dame in an 18–17 win. He later found the net against Virginia during the ACC Championship semifinals.
Notre Dame completed the season with a 16–1 record and claimed its second consecutive NCAA championship.
Donovan also shared Notre Dame’s defensive unit with Shawn Lyght, who helped the Fighting Irish win the 2024 NCAA national championship.
Individually, Donovan received Second-Team All-America recognition from USILA and USA Lacrosse, along with Third-Team recognition from Inside Lacrosse.
The championships established the two national titles of his Notre Dame career, while his defensive statistics documented his growing role within the team.
His Defensive Development, Leadership and 2026 Honours
Donovan continued playing a prominent defensive role during his junior season in 2025.
Across 14 games, he recorded 24 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, one goal and one assist. His goal came against Georgetown on 22 February 2025.
He earned another All-ACC selection and received First-Team All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse. USILA and Inside Lacrosse each selected him for their respective Second Teams.
His development involved more than accumulating defensive statistics.
In his April 2026 Notre Dame interview, Donovan discussed how he had adapted his approach to long-stick midfield. Rather than relying entirely on physical contact, he recognised the value of stick skills and creativity when disrupting opponents.
He also credited experienced Notre Dame defenders with helping him develop his understanding of the collegiate game.
The 2025 season ended with Notre Dame losing to Penn State in the NCAA quarterfinals. Reflecting on that disappointment, Donovan discussed the importance of rebuilding team habits and concentrating on individual practices and plays.
Notre Dame appointed Donovan a team captain for 2026, his fourth and final collegiate season.
During that season, he played all 16 games, collecting 46 ground balls, causing 16 turnovers, and recording one assist. No Notre Dame player outside the faceoff specialist group collected more ground balls than his 46 that season.
The Fighting Irish won the ACC regular-season championship and reached the NCAA national championship game.
Donovan received First-Team All-America recognition from USA Lacrosse, USILA and Inside Lacrosse in 2026, completing four consecutive collegiate seasons with All-America honours.
His achievements also extended to academics.
While studying finance, he received the 2026 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the ACC Excellence Award. He earned his fourth All-ACC Academic Team selection and was named a Third-Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American in July 2026.
In his interview with Notre Dame Athletics, Donovan expressed that winning team championships mattered more to him than individual recognition. That perspective formed part of his explanation of his competitive priorities during his college career.
Will Donovan’s Boston Cannons Career and Professional Statistics
Donovan entered professional lacrosse when the Boston Cannons selected him in the second round of the Premier Lacrosse League College Draft on 14 April 2026. He was the 15th overall pick.
His professional move followed four seasons of collegiate defensive experience, two NCAA championships, and repeated national recognition.
The Premier Lacrosse League identifies him as a left-handed defender, while the Boston Cannons roster lists his specialist position as long-stick midfielder. Both descriptions relate to his defensive responsibilities.
He wears jersey number 7 for the Cannons.
Official PLL records for the 2026 professional season credit him with 11 caused turnovers and 25 ground balls, with no goals or assists.
His professional statistics are separate from those accumulated at Notre Dame, where he played across four collegiate seasons.
The PLL’s official player profile also lists Donovan with a contract extending through the 2028 season.
Will Donovan’s Selection for the United States Lacrosse Team
Donovan’s 2026 career developments included recognition through the United States men’s national lacrosse programme.
On 4 June 2026, USA Lacrosse announced that he had been added to its men’s national field team training camp roster.
The camp was scheduled for 7–9 June in Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing together players involved in the national team selection process.
A further development followed on 5 August 2026, when USA Lacrosse named Donovan to its 22-player squad for the inaugural Pan-American Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
The competition was scheduled for 16–23 August in Kingston, Jamaica.
Being named to the championship squad gave Donovan a chance to represent the United States after his success at Notre Dame and selection in the professional draft. The official announcements establish his squad selection, although they do not independently detail his individual tournament appearances or statistics.
His 2026 national team selections came during a year that also included his final Notre Dame season and his introduction to professional lacrosse with the Boston Cannons.