Women’s Sports

The University’s first athletic programs consisted exclusively of men’s varsity and junior varsity teams. However in the fall of 1922, Lillias MacDonald, the newly appointed Dean of Women, helped to established a physical education program for women at UB which included the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA). The WAA, run by a student governing council, developed a foundation for UB women’s athletics that “would be strong enough to stand the test of time” (1923 Iris yearbook).

In 1923 Gretchen Lee became Director of the Clark Gymnasium and Physical Education Instructor often coaching women’s athletics.

In the 1940’s women around Clark Hall–the University’s main gymnasium at the time–were known as “PEWs,” or Physical Education Women.

  • Basketball
    3/5/25
  • Cross Country
    3/7/25
    Cross Country became a varsity sport in 1979.
  • Rowing
    3/7/25
    Rowing became a varsity sport in 1997.
  • Soccer
    3/7/25
    Women’s soccer became a varsity sport in 1981.
  • Softball
    3/7/25
    The Bulls begin their first season of Division I competition in 2000.
  • Swimming
    3/7/25
    Swimming became a part of women’s athletics in 1963.
  • Tennis
    3/7/25
    With the passing of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, women’s athletics at U.B. had 8 varsity teams, including tennis.
  • Track
    3/7/25
    Track became a varsity sport in 1979.
  • Volleyball
    3/7/25
    Volleyball became a part of women’s athletics in 1966.