Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Peluso Named to Tewaaraton Award Watch List
February 10, 2026 | Lacrosse
WASHINGTON D.C. – Colorado senior defender Jess Peluso was among the 50 top players in women's college lacrosse named to the Watch List for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award presented by Stifel on Tuesday.
Founded in 2001, the Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse players in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation.
Peluso, a Co-Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year selection, scored Nike Lacrosse Media All-America honorable mention honors last season and was the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year. She had 29 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, and recorded the fifth most draw controls in CU history with 96 last season. Peluso earned two Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and had two games with double-digit draw controls. She enters 2026 ranked ninth in CU history in draw controls (101) and tied for third in caused turnovers (71).
Players not named to this initial list will have opportunities to play their way into a spot as the season progresses. Watch List additions will be announced on March 5 and March 26, before the field will be narrowed to 25 nominees on April 16. Nominees can be players from the Watch Lists or not from the Watch Lists, effectively allowing for a third round of additions.
Five finalists will be announced in early May. The Tewaaraton Award recipients will be chosen after the conclusion of the collegiate lacrosse season. The Finalists will be honored and this year's recipients announced live on May 28 at the Tewaaraton Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
About The Tewaaraton Foundation
The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Founded at the University Club of Washington, D.C., the award was first presented in 2001 with permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders. "Tewaaraton" is the Mohawk word for lacrosse, and the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse's Native American Heritage. The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity of the selection process and advances the mission of the Foundation. Each year, The Tewaaraton Foundation presents two scholarships to students from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Nations.
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at CUBuffs.com/WlaxTix
For more information on Colorado Lacrosse, please visit cubuffs.com/wlax. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswlax on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.
Founded in 2001, the Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse players in the United States. The selection committees are made up of premier collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation.
Peluso, a Co-Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year selection, scored Nike Lacrosse Media All-America honorable mention honors last season and was the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year. She had 29 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers, and recorded the fifth most draw controls in CU history with 96 last season. Peluso earned two Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and had two games with double-digit draw controls. She enters 2026 ranked ninth in CU history in draw controls (101) and tied for third in caused turnovers (71).
Players not named to this initial list will have opportunities to play their way into a spot as the season progresses. Watch List additions will be announced on March 5 and March 26, before the field will be narrowed to 25 nominees on April 16. Nominees can be players from the Watch Lists or not from the Watch Lists, effectively allowing for a third round of additions.
Five finalists will be announced in early May. The Tewaaraton Award recipients will be chosen after the conclusion of the collegiate lacrosse season. The Finalists will be honored and this year's recipients announced live on May 28 at the Tewaaraton Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
About The Tewaaraton Foundation
The Tewaaraton Award is recognized as the preeminent lacrosse award, annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. Founded at the University Club of Washington, D.C., the award was first presented in 2001 with permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders. "Tewaaraton" is the Mohawk word for lacrosse, and the Tewaaraton Award symbolizes lacrosse's Native American Heritage. The Tewaaraton Foundation ensures the integrity of the selection process and advances the mission of the Foundation. Each year, The Tewaaraton Foundation presents two scholarships to students from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy – the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Nations.
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now at CUBuffs.com/WlaxTix
For more information on Colorado Lacrosse, please visit cubuffs.com/wlax. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswlax on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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