National Women's Lacrosse League Explained

National Women's Lacrosse League
Font Color:white
Founded:2010
Conference:NAIA
Teams:20
Sports:women's college lacrosse
Mens:n/a
Womens:20
Region:Southeast US, Midwest US
Headquarters:Kansas City, Missouri
Website:http://www.nwll.net
Map Size:250

The National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) women's lacrosse-only college athletic conference. The vast majority of NAIA women's lacrosse programs play at the club level as part of the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA). The NAIA does not currently organize the sport of lacrosse for its member institutions, although there is hope this may change in the near future. In the meantime, the NWLL is providing an umbrella organization for all women's varsity NAIA lacrosse teams in the USA, including a national championship tournament.

Founding schools of the NWLL were Indiana Institute of Technology, Missouri Baptist University, Reinhardt University, Robert Morris University (Illinois), Shorter University and Tennessee Wesleyan College. Conference play began during the 2010-11 season, culminating in the first NWLL conference tournament championship won by Indiana Tech on April 22–23, 2011 at Shorter University.

On April 26, 2011 the NWLL announced the addition of three new members for the 2011-12 academic year: Davenport University, Savannah College of Art and Design and Siena Heights University.[1] On October 12, 2011 it was announced that Midland University would also join in 2011-12.[2]

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) announced on January 27, 2012, that it is making history by adding lacrosse for both men and women as conference sports effective the fall of 2012. The WHAC is the first conference in the NAIA to offer lacrosse as a conference championship sport.[3] At this time, the WHAC schools are still operating under the umbrella of NWLL.

Member schools

InstitutionLocationAffiliationEnrollmentNicknamePrimary Conference
Aquinas CollegeGrand Rapids, MichiganPrivate (Catholic)2,159SaintsWolverine-Hoosier
Asbury UniversityWilmore, KentuckyPrivate (Christian)1,764EaglesKIAC
Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria, FloridaPrivate (Catholic)1,200GyrenesThe Sun Conference
Columbia CollegeColumbia, South CarolinaPrivate1,200Fighting KoalasAppalachian Athletic
Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids, MichiganPrivate11,733PanthersWolverine-Hoosier
Georgetown CollegeGeorgetown, KentuckyPrivate (Christian)1,400TigersMid-South
Indiana Institute of TechnologyFort Wayne, IndianaPrivate 3,500WarriorsWolverine-Hoosier
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MichiganPrivate4,000Blue DevilsWolverine-Hoosier
Lindenwood University – BellevilleBelleville, IllinoisPrivate2,600LynxAmerican Midwest
Lourdes UniversitySylvania, OhioPrivate (Catholic)2,343Gray WolvesWolverine-Hoosier
Missouri Baptist UniversitySt. Louis, MissouriPrivate (Christian)4,500SpartansAmerican Midwest
University of PikevillePikeville, KentuckyPrivate (Presbyterian)2,300 Lady BearsMid-South
Point UniversityWest Point, GeorgiaPrivate (Christian)1,439SkyhawksAppalachian Athletic
Reinhardt UniversityPrivate (Methodist)1,057Eagles Appalachian Athletic
Chicago, IllinoisPrivate7,000EaglesChicagoland Collegiate
St. Andrews University (North Carolina)Laurinburg, North CarolinaPrivate600KnightsAppalachian Athletic
Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GeorgiaPrivate8,478BeesThe Sun Conference
Siena Heights UniversityAdrian, MichiganPrivate (Catholic)2,200SaintsWolverine-Hoosier
Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens, TennesseePrivate (Methodist)1,000BulldogsAppalachian Athletic
Truett-McConnell CollegeCleveland, GeorgiaPrivate (Baptist)1,600BearsAppalachian Athletic

League Championship

Year Champion Score Runner-up Location Host
2015–2016 9-8 (OT) Davenport University
2014–2015 13-6 Lindenwood University – Belleville
2013–2014 13-12 Lindenwood University – Belleville
2012–2013 19-12 Shorter University
2011–2012 18-17 (3 OT) Shorter University
2010–2011 15-10 Shorter University

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NWLL announces addition of three new members. NWLL. July 3, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120316110847/http://www.nwll.net/seasons/2010-11/releases/042611newmembers. March 16, 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: Midland makes changes in lacrosse program. Midland University. October 17, 2011.
  3. Web site: WHAC Adds Two Conference Sports for 2012-13. WHAC. 2012-01-28.