SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The San Diego State lacrosse program will be joining the Pac-12 as an affiliate member beginning no later than the 2023-24 academic year, the conference announced Tuesday morning.
"I am thrilled that our women's lacrosse team will begin competing in the Pac-12 conference in 2024,"John David Wicker said, SDSU's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "Conference alignment has been a journey for our coaches and student-athletes since we began the program, and this is a huge win for us. This move also benefits the sport of lacrosse on the West Coast."
"We are so excited to be joining the Pac-12 as an affiliate member," Head coach Kylee White said.
"To be able to compete among the best teams on the West Coast, and in the nation, will undoubtedly help our program grow to its highest potential. We are so grateful for the opportunity to represent the Pac-12 and the incredible institutions in this conference as well as show the nation what it means to play Aztec Lacrosse. This is amazing for West Coast lacrosse as well as for the growth and longevity of the sport."
The Aztecs will be joining the Pac-12 along with UC Davis, becoming the seventh and eighth teams in the conference. SDSU went 2-2 against Pac-12 opponents last season and is 8-8 over the last three years.
"We are excited to have UC Davis and San Diego State join Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse as affiliate members," said Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner Teresa Gould. "Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse continues to grow and develop nationally, and we are very pleased to bring two great programs into the fold and expand to eight teams beginning no later than the 2023-24 season."
SDSU was in the now-defunct MPSF from 2011, the program's inaugural year, until 2021. The Aztecs competed as an independent last season, going 7-8 while playing a schedule that featured six teams that were ranked or receiving votes.
"As a program, we want to thank JD Wicker, Jenny Bramer, the SDSU athletics' administration and everyone behind the scenes that helped make this possible," White said.
The six existing lacrosse members of the Pac-12 are Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford and USC. All those programs except for Arizona State competed against SDSU in the MPSF.
Determinations as to scheduling, Pac-12 Tournament bracket methodology and additional matters impacted by the addition of UC Davis and San Diego State remain to be discussed and will be made in due course.
Lacrosse becomes the second San Diego State program to be an affiliate member of the Pac-12, joining men's soccer who has been in the conference since 2005.
SDSU Lacrosse Set to Join Pac-12
