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Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Soccer Announcement

Women's Soccer Wayne State University Communications and Marketing

Wayne State University Announces Addition Of Women’s Varsity Soccer Team

WSU Athletics seeking to hire head coach by end of summer 2025, begin competition during 2026-27 academic year.

DETROIT -- Wayne State University announced today that it will add women's soccer as a varsity sport beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.  This is the first varsity sport added by the university in more than a decade.

"We're excited to build on the enthusiasm and momentum at Wayne State with the addition of a women's varsity soccer team," said WSU President Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy.  "Athletics plays a key role in enabling college access and success, providing opportunities for students to develop career enhancing skills that fuel our regional workforce, and creating a vibrant campus for our community.  We all look forward to cheering the program on to triumphs both in the classroom and on the field."
 


The new team will create additional pathways for student-athletes to attend Wayne State, develop marketable skills and represent the Warriors on the field.  The team will compete within the NCAA Division II as part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).  Home matches will be played on the lit turf field adjacent to Tom Adams Field, with improvements planned to enhance the overall training and game-day experience for athletes and fans.

"Wayne State Athletics is proud to introduce women's varsity soccer -- a transformative addition that reflects our deep commitment to opportunity under Title IX and our mission to provide high-level avenues for student-athletes to thrive academically, athletically and personally," said Erika Wallace, WSU Director of Athletics.  "Wayne State Athletics offers the unique academic opportunity to learn, live and compete in Detroit -- a city that passionately loves its sports.  At a time when many institutions are reevaluating their athletic offerings, we are excited to expand and enhance the student and community experience with a new varsity sport."

With the addition of women's soccer, Wayne State will sponsor 11 women's teams and eight men's teams, extending the university's dedication to Title IX and providing opportunities for all student-athletes.  The announcement comes as soccer continues to gain popularity among athletes and audiences of all ages and backgrounds, with youth participation including more than 90,000 players ages 4 to 19 in Michigan alone according to the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association.  Wayne State University recently announced a unique partnership with Detroit City Football Club (DCFC) and has fielded club soccer teams for 17 years.

'Student athletes are highly engaged on campus and in the community.  Their experiences on the field help them cultivate both academic success and career-ready skills, including leadership, mentorship, persistence, and collaboration," said Lauie M. Lauzon Clabo, WSU provost and executive president for academic affairs.  "As an institution of opportunity, Wayne State is proud to offer new pathways to access higher education that prepare students with these lifelong skills."

Warrior student-athletes are frequently recognized for academic excellence and nationally ranked for their community service, and benefit from robust student support services and partnerships with leaders in Detroit sports, including The Detroit Pistons, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, DCFC and more. This spring, the university announced a new partnership with Opendorse to provide Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) resources for student-athletes.   

The university seeks to hire a head coach by the end of summer, with preparations underway for competition in the fall of 2026. Qualified candidates interested in applying for the position can learn more and apply HERE.

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•  Of the current 300-plus members of NCAA Division II, including provisional and candidacy schools, 259 offer women's soccer, including nine of the current GLIAC members (only Lake Superior State will not sponsor women's soccer once WSU's program commences).

•  The GLIAC has traditionally played a 14-game conference schedule preceded by two weekends of non-league competition.

•  Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams advance to the GLIAC tournament which runs Tuesday through Sunday in mid-November.

•  The GLIAC has had three different tournament champions in the last four years (Ferris State in 2021, Grand Valley State in 2022, and Northern Michigan in 2023 and 2024).

•  The NCAA started sponsoring a women's soccer championship in 1988 with GVSU having the most national titles (7).

•  Twenty-two (22) current Division 2 schools in the Midwest Region have qualified for the NCAA Tournament.  Currently the top seven squads (three automatic bids and four at-large) advance to the NCAA Tournament each year from the Midwest Region which consists of 35 schools (nine from the GLIAC, 11 from the G-MAC and 15 from the GLVC).

•  Women's soccer is the first sport added by WSU since women's golf began during the 2014-15 academic year.

 
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