The NCAA announced today that William Smith was selected to host the 2026 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship on H.J. McCooey Memorial Field. It will mark the sixth time the national championship weekend will be held in Geneva.
 
Nov. 20-22, 2026, the top four teams in the nation will travel to Geneva, New York, to compete for a national title on McCooey Field. It will be the fourth time since 2001 that William Smith has hosted the field hockey championship. The Herons also had the honor in 2006, 2012, and 2016. Championships prior to 2001 were hosted by one of the four semifinalists with champions crowned in Geneva in 1987 and 1998.
 
"We're extremely excited to be hosting the 2026 NCAA Field Hockey Championships," said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Miller. "McCooey Field is one of the premier collegiate field hockey venues in the country, and HWS, our athletic department staff and the entire Geneva community will be ready to put on a top-notch event for all the teams, student-athletes and their families."
 
William Smith was notified of its successful bid to host this afternoon when the NCAA announced championship hosts for 87 championships across a two-year span (2026-28). The championship is expected to bring more than 1,000 spectators and participants to Geneva and the Finger Lakes Region for the weekend. Attendance could spike if one of the area's field hockey teams reach the semifinals. The paid attendance at the 2016 championship exceeded 600 despite teams traveling to Geneva from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
 
"We're very excited to be selected to host the 2026 Division III National Championship," said William Smith Head Field Hockey Coach Sophie Riskie '07. "It is an honor to be chosen and a testament to our beautiful facility, McCooey Field, and our dedication to excellent hospitality for visiting teams and field hockey fans. This will be the fourth National Championship here at Hobart and William Smith that I have been a part of, and I'm excited for the opportunity to bring this great event to Geneva again!"
 
William Smith has made 24 NCAA tournament appearances in program history, including back-to-back bids in 2022 and 2023. The Herons advanced to championship weekend six times, including five trips to the national championship game. William Smith won national champions  in 1992, 1997, and 2000. 
 
There were over 1,200 bid applications from member schools, conferences, cities and sports commissions across 47 states and Washington, D.C., all competing to host predetermined rounds for 87 of the NCAA's 90 championships. The Association chose over 240 host sites for preliminary and final rounds of predetermined championships across Division I, II and III, primarily for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This cycle marked a shift from a four-year to a two-year site selection process. The three championships not included in the process due to preexisting site arrangements were Division I baseball, Division I football, and Division I softball.