Hall Of Fame Spotlight: Taylor Cummings
The journey of three-time Tewaaraton Award winner ahead of her Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame induction on Oct. 16.
8/20/2026
“She put Maryland on the map for lacrosse.”
To Kori Edmondson, that is only the beginning of what Taylor Cummings has built in College Park.
“She was one of the pioneers for getting women’s lacrosse where it is today, always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for women’s sports in the state of Maryland,” Edmondson said. “That’s the dynasty she left here and is continuing to build.”
Now, that legacy is being recognized in a new way. On Oct. 16, Cummings will be inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame, adding another distinction to a career that has helped shape the trajectory of women’s lacrosse in Maryland.
When she became eligible, it was a no-brainer in my mind. She belongs here as one of the elites to have represented our university. There is no one more deserving than her in this Hall of Fame class.Maryland Head Coach Cathy Reese
Revered as one of the best lacrosse players in Maryland — and NCAA — history, Cummings has redefined the sport from every angle imaginable. From playing to coaching to calling games on live television, she’s given everything to the sport that’s given a lifetime of memories and success to her.
“As much as the wins were amazing, the memories off the field come to my mind more,” Cummings said. “Whether it’s going to the dining halls after practice or hanging out on the bus rides to and from games, all the little things that weren’t X’s and O’s on the field really made my time as a Terp special.”
The on-field success was certainly legacy-worthy, but Cummings’ impact on the sport didn’t stop with her three Tewaaraton Awards or her two national championships. It’s still reaching new heights, each and every year.
“Taylor's not only an awesome lacrosse player, but she's a great person,” Reese said. “For her to have the four-year career that she had here speaks for itself. In addition to everything she won, she just left an impact on everyone around her. It’s hard for me to separate her as a player and as a person, because I’ve just seen her in so many different situations where she’s been able to shine through.”
Cummings grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland, just 45 minutes away from the college town where she’d move mountains. A ball girl for Maryland soccer, Cummings has memories of supporting the Terrapins, but didn’t dream she’d be considered one of the all-time greats to wear “Maryland” across the chest.
Reese recalls Cummings’ recruitment process and how Maryland wasn’t necessarily at the top of her list out of high school. Reese saw the potential and the talent in Cummings right away, and went all out to make sure her visit to College Park was the best it could be.
“After visiting us and getting to know our staff, the university, and what it could really provide for her, the decision to come to Maryland was a really special one,” Reese said.
The feeling was mutual. Maryland had its newest Terp — and a future Hall of Famer.
I walked away from my second visit having met the team, seen campus, and explored the business school, and I knew it was exactly the place I wanted to go. It checked all the boxes, and I was just so excited about everything from lacrosse to my education, so it was really the perfect fit. I’m so glad I took that visit because it really did change my life in so many ways.Taylor Cummings
Across her four years, Cummings tallied 229 goals, 94 assists, 509 draw controls, and caused 139 turnovers. She became the first player in NCAA history to win three Tewaaraton Awards, but she’ll be the first to deflect the credit to those around her.
“At the end of the day, I would never have had the success that I had as a player without the incredible teammates, coaches, and support staff that I had,” Cummings said. “Individual awards are given to individual people, but when they play on a team, it would be a mistake to not credit everyone who made my success possible. If I didn't have every amazing piece in the position that it was, I wouldn’t have won national championships, individual awards, and I certainly wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame.”
Her unbelievable career caught the eyes of the nation, both near and far. She was certainly on the radar for national teams — she’s been involved with the U.S. National Team since 2014 — but she didn’t realize the lives she was changing right here in College Park.
“We get so many fans at Maryland, especially little girls,” Reese said. “For them to grow up watching her and how she could dominate on both ends of the field, see her competitive fire and the championship-caliber player that she was, I think it’s something that was super inspirational to future players.”
That’s where so many players — like Edmondson — come into the story.
“My early memories were coming to games and seeing how amazing she was. When I thought of Maryland lacrosse, I always associated Taylor Cummings with it. She was someone that I’ve always looked up to, both the way she played and the amazing human she is.”Kori Edmondson
Edmondson’s is a testament shared by many within the Terrapin lacrosse program today. Countless “why Maryland” stories include memories of watching the greats, like Cummings, compete in College Park.
“What an honor,” Cummings said. “I'm really grateful that I was on teams that had so much success to where they were able to inspire this generation of players. When you’re in college, you don’t necessarily have that mindset of inspiring others; you just want to go out and play a game you love. It's incredibly humbling and exciting, and now I watch them do the same for little girls in the stands. I think they don’t even realize that they’re able to do the same thing as well.”
The example she set was a historic one. Cummings’ goal total ranks third all-time in Maryland history; she has the second-most career points, and her 143 draw controls in 2015 are second only to her 144 tally from the following season.
“When she took the field as a freshman for us, you could see firsthand how she adjusted to new coaching, teammates, and her surroundings,” Reese said. “She was somebody that worked so hard, both on and off the field, to be the best player and teammate that she could be.”
Her playing career eventually ended, but lacrosse wasn’t done with Cummings, nor was she ready to stop growing the sport that she’d seemingly already given everything to. She took to coaching, giving her a chance to oversee the next generation of players and build future leaders in the game.
“I love this sport,” Cummings said. “I’m just so fortunate to have been able to play at the highest level with others who love the game as much as I do. Then to be able to coach and impact that next generation meant a ton to me.”
It came as a shock to Edmondson when Cummings’ coaching career directly intersected with her development. She recalls being speechless when she arrived at her first practice and saw Cummings on the sideline, thinking to herself, “How do you even have a conversation with the greatest lacrosse player of all time?”
For Edmondson, her career was always going to land her at Maryland, the same place she grew up watching Cummings play. But with the training of her new coach, her career instantly took off.
“She literally taught me what it takes to be a two-way midfielder at Maryland,” Edmondson said. “Being a two-way middie is really rare nowadays, but she taught me how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations and how to wear a lot of hats at once.”
Her story is still writing itself in College Park, with a new chapter to come soon. What Cummings thought was a call with Reese about an upcoming alumni event turned into a life-changing moment when she was told about her Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame induction.
When I say I had no idea, I very much had no idea. It definitely caught me off guard and was really something that I never really ever expected. I didn’t even know I was eligible. It’s something that I’m so incredibly grateful for and humbled to be a part of.Taylor Cummings
Her career has taken her from the field, to the sideline, to the broadcast booth, and she’s loved every angle of it. She travels the country calling games and bringing more eyes to the sport, but every trip back to College Park offers Cummings a slice of home.
“I walked away from my four years there having had the best experience on the field, but also with an incredible support system,” Cummings said. “I walked away with countless friendships and mentors, and that’s really what it means to be a Terp. I still have friends from school that I talk to regularly and who my kids call ‘aunt’, and I think that’s really special.”
Her love for Maryland and her professional obligation to remain impartial during games tugs at her heartstrings, but she still makes sure to work an anecdote or two into each Maryland broadcast about the program that built her.
“It’s a fun opportunity to brag about a school and a team that I love as much as I can,” Cummings said. “Even though I'm not on the field, even though I'm not on the sidelines, I'm able to watch them and explain, and tell viewers about the game, the program, and our awesome coaches. I try to do it as impartially as I can, but I make sure to get a nugget or two in there about why Maryland is so awesome.”
It’s rare for a Maryland Athletics Hall of Famer to be inducted while their legacy is still actively expanding, but Cummings has never settled for ordinary. She’ll be cemented with the other all-time greats in October, but the impact she made on Maryland lacrosse started the second her cleats hit the field in 2013.
“She was a great ambassador for the sport, and she represented Maryland lacrosse really well at a really high level,” Reese said. “She continues to crush everything that's in her way, and we just love that she's a part of our program and a part of our history. She deserves this nomination and this honor. She’s somebody that we’re really proud of as a program. She represents the tradition and success that Maryland lacrosse has been built on.”
