NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale women's crew, ranked No. 3 in this week's CRCA national poll, will open its season at the Doc Hosea Invitational, facing off against No. 16 Penn, No. 8 Rutgers, and Northeastern. Additionally, Yale's third varsity four will face No. 12 Syracuse.
"We are excited to start racing; it has been a challenging preseason so far," said
Will Porter, Friends of YWC Head Coach. "The river is fast and cold, but the team is doing a great job staying positive and working hard."
2026 Roster | 2026 Schedule
Race Schedule
Vs. Penn/Rutgers
8:00 a.m. – Varsity Four
8:20 a.m. – Second Varsity Eight
8:40 a.m. – Varsity Eight
9:00 a.m. – Second Varsity Four
9:20 a.m. – Third Varsity Eight
9:40 a.m. – Third Varsity Four (Rutgers/Syracuse)
Vs. Northeastern
12:00 a.m. – Varsity Four
12:30 pm. – Second Varsity Eight
1:00 p.m. – Varsity Eight
1:30 p.m. – Second Varsity Four & Fourth Varsity Four
2:00 p.m. – Third Varsity Eight
A Dominant HOCR Performance
The Bulldogs wrapped up their fall slate with strong performances at the Head of the Charles, winning the collegiate eight title for the third straight year, and was the top finisher in the second varsity. All three Yale crews that competed throughout the weekend earned gold-medal finishes in their respective categories.
An NCAA Championship to Remember
Yale is coming off a historic year that saw the varsity eight claiming the national title for the first time since 2010. That crew had a performance for the record books, leading for the entirety of the race and winning in an NCAA championship time of 6:06.138. The varsity four and second varsity eight also delivered strong performances at NCAAs, finishing fourth and fifth in the nation, respectively. For the seventh straight season, the Bulldogs finished as one of the top-10 women's crews in the nation with a runner-up finish. Yale's three boats accumulated 121 points in the 22-team field, marking the first time since 2004 that the program finished second at the championship.
Ivies Rewind
The Bulldogs had a strong showing at the Ivy League Championship, earning the league's automatic bid last season to the NCAA Championship and capturing the overall team title with 89 points. The league's NCAA automatic qualifier is determined by the team that earns the highest combined point total across the varsity eight, second varsity eight, and varsity four races. Yale secured gold medals in both the second varsity eight and varsity four events and claimed silver in the varsity eight for a total of 45 points. Princeton was second with 44 points but won the league title in the varsity eight race. All Yale crews earned medals, with the Bulldogs also claiming gold in both the third varsity eight and second varsity four, and taking silver in the third varsity four, securing the overall team points title.
The Captain
Porter announced that
Harriet Drake-Lee will serve as the captain for the Bulldogs this season. Drake-Lee, a CRCA First Team All-American, competed in Yale's first varsity eight that won the national title. She was also named a Second Team All-Ivy honoree after that crew earned a silver medal at the Ivy League Championship. Additionally, that boat picked up victories over Michigan, Rutgers, Syracuse, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Harvard-Radcliffe.
Porter Named CRCA Division I National Coach of the Year
Porter continued to add to his impressive resumé, as he was tabbed the CRCA Division I National Coach of the Year last season. He guided the Bulldogs through an exceptional 2025 campaign, capped off by the runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. Porter also led the Bulldogs to the Ivy League team title, securing their spot on the national stage. Yale also had a dominant regular season, highlighted by an Eisenberg Cup win over Princeton.
Mia Levy '25 Earns NCAA Impact Award Honors
Levy continued to add to her stellar career, garnering NCAA Impact Award honors for her exceptional accomplishments on the water, in the classroom, and in the community. One of the most accomplished student-athletes in the program's history, Levy excelled both academically and athletically during the 2024–25 season. Levy earned the title of CRCA Division I Athlete of the Year and was a key member of the first varsity boat that captured Yale's first national title since 2010 at the NCAA Championship.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will race for the Cayuga Cup against Syracuse and Cornell on Saturday, Apr. 4.
