The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program. An emerging sport is a women’s sport recognized by the NCAA that is intended to help schools provide more athletics opportunities for women and more sport-sponsorship options for institutions, while helping that sport achieve NCAA championship status.

When the NCAA adopted the recommendations of the Gender Equity Task Force in 1994, one of the recommendations was the creation of the list of emerging sports for women to help close the participation gap between men’s and women’s sports.  Nine sports were on the original list. Since then, five sports have become championship sports (beach volleyball, rowing, ice hockey, water polo and bowling), while others have been added or removed from the list. 

In 2022-23, emerging sports accounted for over 4,200 participation opportunities for student-athletes based on NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates data. Institutions may use emerging sports to meet minimum sports-sponsorship requirements and, in Divisions I and II, minimum financial aid requirements.

Potential sports must apply to the program for consideration. If sports are recommended by CWA and added to the program through the divisional governance structure, the sport leaders work to expand the sport in the collegiate space by adding more NCAA programs. The NCAA supports emerging sports by sharing information about the sports, providing guidance and feedback, and working with the Committee on Women’s Athletics to receive updates and disseminate information to the divisions as needed. 

Current NCAA emerging sports for women: 

Learn more about the current six emerging sports for women below. While in the program, the sport governing bodies lead efforts to grow the sport and work directly with NCAA member schools interested in adding programs. 

Acrobatics and tumbling

• Governing body: National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association
• Season of competition: Spring
• 2022-23 Sport Sponsorship: 37 teams
  • DI – 4
  • DII – 26
  • DIII - 7

Equestrian (Divisions I and II only)

• Governing body: National Collegiate Equestrian Association
• Season of competition: Spring
• 2022-23 Sport Sponsorship: 22 teams
  • DI – 19
  • DII – 3 

Rugby

• Governing bodies: National Intercollegiate Rugby Association and USA Rugby
• Season of competition: Fall
• 2022-23 Sport Sponsorship: 29 teams
  • DI – 10 
  • DII – 9 
  • DIII – 10 

Stunt

• Governing body: USA Cheer
• Season of competition: Spring
• 2022-23 Sport Sponsorship: Not available. Stunt became an emerging sport in Divisions I and II Aug. 1, 2023. First data will be available with the 2023-24 report. 

Triathlon

• Governing body: USA Triathlon
• Season of competition: Fall
• 2022-23 Sport Sponsorship: 34 teams
  • DI – 8
  • DII – 13
  • DIII – 13

Women’s wrestling

• Governing bodies: USA Wrestling and Wrestle Like A Girl
• Season of competition: Winter
• 2022-23 Sport Sponsorship: 51 teams
  • DI – 2
  • DII – 19
  • DIII – 30