Kendry Crabtree
Online Editor
The Mississippi University for Women's Athletic Department has achieved a significant milestone by officially gaining full membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III.
The university was notified by the NCAA in July that it is now a fully active member, and it is now competing in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). It took six years, but becoming part of Division III was well worth it, said President Nora Miller.
“We are proud of what our Athletic Director and staff have accomplished since we reinstated intercollegiate athletics six years ago,” Miller said. “Being accepted as full members of the NCAA and the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a testament to that hard work. This achievement reflects our commitment to providing a high-quality athletic program that fosters excellence, integrity, and sportsmanship. We look forward to seeing our student-athletes compete at this level.”
The NCAA membership opens doors to many benefits for The W's student-athletes, including access to a broader range of athletic competitions, enhanced recruiting opportunities and increased visibility on the national stage. For the athletes, coaches, and staff who have dedicated countless hours to building and sustaining the university's athletic programs, this milestone is nothing short of a dream come true.
“Being a part of the athletic department has been an honor, and it is a major accomplishment for this school to become a part of the NCAA Division III SLIAC conference. I have enjoyed participating in every last game, win, loss and tie in the last four years and will be proud to be an alumnus of the Owls Women’s Soccer Team,” said Lindsey Moyle, a senior forward on the women’s soccer team.
The MUW Owls will compete in 15 different sports within the SLIAC. This presents a remarkable opportunity for student-athletes to demonstrate their skill on the field, court and pitch while representing their institution with pride.
“When you get down to the nitty-gritty of it, you play high-level sports against teams that are made up of the same skill level as you, which creates a challenge on and off the field,” said Chase LeBlanc, a junior outfielder on the Owl’s baseball team. “Being able to focus on sports and my major is a big part of why I chose The W in the first place. I am excited to see what's in store for the coming year as we make this change into a Division III program.”
Buddy Foster was named the interim athletic director on Sept. 29. He has been the assistant director of athletics since 2022.
More than 180,000 student-athletes at 450 institutions make up Division III, the largest NCAA division both in number of participants and number of schools.