Big 12 To Add Women's Lacrosse

BOULDER - The Colorado Buffaloes Women's Lacrosse team has found a new home and with Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark's announcement that the league will add the sport for the 2024-25 season, it will be the same home as the majority of CU's other sports.

"When Colorado announced its move to the Big 12, I was asked a lot about what that means for our program," CU coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Our administration has been incredibly supportive and great advocates for us. To have another Power 5 conference add lacrosse is great for our sport and its continued growth. We are excited to be a part of it from the beginning."

In addition to Colorado, Arizona State and Cincinnati are the other Big 12 schools that sponsor women's lacrosse, and the league will look to expand beyond those three with affiliate schools prior to the 2024-25 season.

"We are excited that the Big 12 will sponsor women's lacrosse, and I would like to thank our future conference peers for their support in this process," CU Athletic Director Rick George said. "Our goals are to compete for and win championships, and for women's lacrosse to continue to play in a major conference with strong competition and increased visibility will be vital to accomplish those goals."

"I have been able to communicate with the Arizona State and Cincinnati head coaches, and I know we all share a common vision for what this conference can look like," Whidden commented. "The Big 12 is an amazing conference; it gives us incredible exposure, great competition, and an expanded recruiting footprint. We could not be more excited to be able to compete in it starting in the 2025 season."

The league is also adding beach volleyball and the two sports brings the league's total sponsored sports to 25.

"Beach volleyball and women's lacrosse are both experiencing growth and popularity on a national level," the Big 12 release stated. "The additions will allow incoming and current members to compete for national championships wearing the Big 12 Logo while expanding the league's brand at the highest level."

Lacrosse's growth specifically is highlighted by the fact that the IOC announced it will return the sport to the Olympic Games in 2028 for the first time in 80 years and for the first time for women's lacrosse.

CU competed against Denver, Marquette, and 2022 NCAA National Champion Northwestern during its fall season and will begin its final season in the Pac-12 this spring.

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