NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Emmy Pascal of the Yale women's lacrosse team is the recipient of the 2026 Nellie Pratt Elliot Award, the most prestigious athletic award given to a senior female at Yale.
The Nellie Pratt Elliot Award goes to the senior woman whose excellence in the field of athletics and in her life at Yale best represents the ideals of sportsmanship and Yale tradition. It is awarded in memory of Nellie Pratt Elliot, who was an assistant director of undergraduate admissions at Yale for 46 years.
The award was conferred on Sunday, May 17, as part of Class Day, a Yale College celebration and tradition that dates to the 19th century.
Erica Bamford, Yale's Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse, praised Pascal's leadership.
"Emmy's commitment to her teammates and dedication to Yale lacrosse are unmatched," said Bamford. "She fosters a culture of fierce competitiveness balanced with genuine care for others, leading the team on the field while serving as a trusted sounding board for her teammates off the field. Emmy uniquely challenges, champions and supports her teammates in ways that bring out the best in them both individually and collectively, strengthening the program on and off the field."
Pascal is a member of the winningest class in Yale women's lacrosse history – the Class of 2026 was a part of 57 wins in the last four seasons. The team's accomplishments in that span include three NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Tournament quarterfinal appearances, two Ivy League Tournament championships and two Ivy League regular season championships.
Pascal, Yale's captain, has a long list of individual honors this season. She was one of 25 nominees nationally for the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the best college women's lacrosse player. She was on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List for the past two seasons. She has also been named first team USA Lacrosse All-America, second team ILWomen Media All-America and first team IWLCA All-Northeast Region.
Last month Pascal became the first Yale women's lacrosse player to earn Ivy League Defender of the Year. She has earned All-Ivy League honors for three straight seasons (first team this year and in 2024; second team in 2025).
Pascal started all 18 games for a Yale defense that currently ranks No. 6 nationally in scoring defense (7.47 goals allowed per game). She was second in the Ivy League in caused turnovers (35) and ground balls (40). Pascal was also a critical part of Yale's clears; through games of May 13 the Bulldogs rank fifth nationally and first in the Ivy League in clears (.931).
Last season Pascal was an honorable mention USA Lacrosse All-America selection. She was first team IWLCA All-Northeast Region and second team All-Ivy League.
In 2024 Pascal was third team IWLCA All-America and first team IWLCA All-Northeast Region.
An economics major, Pascal earned IWLCA Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2025. She spent the summer of 2023 studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
In addition to her academic and athletic achievements, Pascal has also been a part of multiple community service initiatives. That includes serving as an ambassador for the One Love Foundation, volunteering at John C. Daniels School and spending time with Chloe, a youngster who joined the women's lacrosse team this year via Team IMPACT (an organization that matches children facing serious illness with college sports teams).
Pascal appeared in 74 games, all starts, in her career. She is a native of Lorton, Va.
