CHESTER, Pa. — The California Palms opened their first regular season game in May with a one-goal overtime loss to the Maryland Charm. On Saturday, they will end the season against the same team, this time with a trophy on the line.

The two meet in the inaugural Women's Lacrosse League Championship on Saturday at Subaru Park, just outside Philadelphia, live on ESPN. Both finished 3-1 atop the four-team league, and both know exactly what the other can do.

"Super excited to compete in the first-ever WLL Championship, especially in a city like Philadelphia, where there's going to be a ton of fans and the sport is continuing to grow," Palms midfielder Marie McCool said. "We're ready to put on a show for everyone."

California's only loss came on May 29, when Maryland edged them 18-17. McCool forced overtime with a goal in the final seconds of regulation before Charm midfielder Cassidy Spilis ended it 20 seconds later. That was the Palms' first regular-season game as a team, and head coach Maddy Buss has treated it as a valuable lesson ever since.

"You definitely learn way more from a loss, and we are so much better for it," Buss said. "It shows in our progression throughout the season."

Midfielder Ellie Masera put Saturday in plainer terms.

"It's a dream come true for anyone who plays women's lacrosse to play on the biggest stage, in the biggest game," Masera said. "It feels like a full-circle moment. We started our season playing against them and ended up losing, so we have a great opportunity to right that wrong."

The Palms punched their ticket emphatically, jumping to an 8-0 lead and cruising past Boston 21-9 in the Palms final regular-season game, six days after several of them helped Team USA win gold in Tokyo. Maryland hasn't played since July 17.

California finished the regular season with the league's best goal differential at plus-20, scoring the most goals in the WLL while allowing the fewest at 51. Masera led the team with 15 goals, second-most in the league, on 52 percent shooting. Emma LoPinto paced the Palms with 19 points, and McCool added a team-high 27 ground balls. In net, Taylor Moreno posted 54 saves and the league's stingiest goals-against average at 12.9.

The Charm counter with the deepest distribution game in the league, a WLL-best 41 assists, 14 from Ashley Humphrey alone, the most of any player. Rookie Brigid Duffy tied for the team lead with 20 points, Sydni Black scored 14 goals, and both Ally Kennedy and Sam Apuzzo cleared 16. Defender Abby Bosco caused a league-high 12 turnovers, and Maryland splits time in goal between veteran Caylee Waters and rookie Jenika Cuocco.

Captain Ally Mastroianni was on the roster that lost the WLL Championship Series final to New York in February (The Championship Series was a precursor to Saturday’s championship game and was closer to a tournament than to an end-of-season finale). She says that loss is the point.

"Being in those moments where the stands are packed and there's pressure on the line, the game goes by really, really fast," Mastroianni said. "Learning from that, walking a little slower, understanding that pressure is a privilege. We lost that championship, and that didn't feel good. We know we're capable of winning. Our team is so much more well-rounded and established, and we've built such chemistry and an identity with the Palms that we're ready to bring home the first title."

McCool, who joined the Palms this summer, credits the players and coaches for letting her play her game.

"I'm really grateful I got to join a team who empowered me to be who I am, that midfielder who likes to push transitions," she said. "We really support each other, which makes our jobs easier."

For a team that plays its home games at the University of San Diego and represents the entire West Coast in a four-team league, Saturday carries weight beyond the standings.

"You close your eyes as a kid and you dream about this kind of stuff," Masera said. "When I was younger, the NCAA was the highest stage. To play professionally, against the best players in the entire world. You can't ask for more."

Mastroianni has spent championship week watching the next generation show up.

"All week, little girls and their families have been coming up to me on the street saying, 'I'm coming to your game this weekend,'" she said. "This morning we were playing street lacrosse and all the girls were wearing Palms jerseys. It made me reflect on 2016, when I was in the stands watching Marie (McCool) win a championship with UNC. I was the little girl in the stands, and I told my parents I wanted to be on that field one day."

Buss, a 2025 USA Lacrosse Coach of the Year who built her career in Southern California, plans to let herself feel it before the whistle.

"This is our why, the underdog, the nontraditional area," Buss said. "We see you, we're here with you, we're always going to have your back, just like the Palms have each other's backs. It's really cool to be that representation for basically anything west of the Mississippi."

As for whether her group belongs there, Buss isn't hedging.

"I'm biased," she said, "but I don't think there's a more deserving group out there for this opportunity."

First draw is set for 2 p.m. PT Saturday at Subaru Park, live on ESPN.

Website Photo: Emily Nalls. Photo Credit: Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography