The Missouri Western Board of Governors unanimously approved the addition of women’s lacrosse as the 17th NCAA Division II varsity sport this past fall. The team will become active in the 2020-21 academic year and begin competition in the spring of 2021.
The University is the fourth NCAA Division II member in the state of Missouri to add the sport and the first from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Missouri Western will be the only public DII member in the state of Missouri sponsoring women’s lacrosse.
The team will play games on Craig Field in Spratt Memorial Stadium and use current locker room facilities. It is estimated that the new sport will attract between 30 and 40 student athletes. A national search for a coach is underway.
Women’s lacrosse is the fastest growing NCAA sport. DII sponsorships increased 129.7% over the past 10 years. In fall 2019, 109 NCAA DII members sponsored women’s lacrosse.