For many incoming students, choosing Emory University can feel like sacrificing the traditional college sports experience in favor of a stronger focus on academics and other opportunities. While you won’t come across any rowdy football tailgates to attend on campus, Emory’s 17 varsity sports teams provide plenty of championship-level excitement to satisfy fans.
In June, Emory was awarded the 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup, which recognizes the most successful athletics program from each division of collegiate athletics based on their teams’ performances in NCAA Championships. The achievement is proof of Emory’s athletic prowess at the Division III level.
The Eagles have been members of the University Athletic Association (UAA) conference since its inception in 1986. The conference is one of the most prestigious in DIII, evidenced by four of its eight members finishing in the Director’s Cup top 10 standings this past year.
There will be plenty to root for when everyone returns to campus as the fall sports teams kick off the 2025-26 athletic year. The men’s and women’s cross country teams will be among the first teams to race into their new seasons, and they will look to build off of last season’s success. The women’s team finished in seventh place at the NCAA Championships last year, which tied the program-best finish, while the men’s team earned 24th place.
The men’s and women’s soccer teams will similarly work to continue their momentum from last season. This season, the women’s team was ranked No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll after last year’s campaign saw them reach the NCAA Final Four for the second time in program history. The men’s team is seeking their third consecutive UAA title this season and will also look to return to the NCAA tournament after a first-round exit last year.
The volleyball team enters this season with high expectations under head coach Brianna Jones, who is entering her third year with the team. The Eagles have posted an impressive 55-6 record across Jones’ first two seasons at the helm and will strive to earn their 29th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance after reaching the quarterfinals last year.
When the winter season rolls around, the action will continue as four more teams get added into the mix. The men’s basketball team will attempt to build off of their historic season last year, which included being ranked at No. 1 in the country for the first time in program history after a 10-0 start to the season, and a run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. On the women’s side, the Eagles are aiming to extend their streak of consecutive winning seasons to 10 following last year’s 15-10 record.
The swimming and diving teams will also bring some excitement to the winter season. Head coach Jon Howell has made both the men’s and women’s teams a force to be reckoned with since joining Emory in 1998. In that time, the women’s team has won 12 NCAA Championships while the men’s team has won four, including three wins in a row from 2022 to 2024. Not only that, but both teams have won a staggering 26 consecutive UAA Championships and will work to maintain their dominance this season.
Spring athletics will continue to be exciting watches for new and returning students, playing host to the majority of eight teams’ seasons. The track and field teams have had success in both their indoor and outdoor seasons, which span from the winter through late May. The men’s and women’s teams finished in the top three in both the indoor and outdoor UAA Championships last year, including a win for the men in the outdoor season.
On the tennis court, the men’s team earned third-place finishes at both the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Indoor Tennis Championships and the UAA Championships, and reached the quarterfinals in the NCAA tournament. The women’s team matched the men’s placement at the ITA Championships, but finished second in the UAA and reached the semifinals in the NCAA tournament.
Both the softball and baseball teams had bounce-back seasons in 2025. The softball team made the postseason and had its first 30-win season since 2019, finishing with a 33-14 record and advancing to the Super Regionals. The baseball team finished with a 28-16 record in Bobby Perez’s first season as the head coach, and made their first trip to the postseason since 2017.
The golf teams enjoyed considerable success last year and aim to be contenders for championships this year. Both teams captured UAA titles last fall, with the men winning their second consecutive title, and the women winning their third in four seasons. The women’s team went on to become NCAA Champions and junior Carys Code earned the individual championship, while the men’s team finished in third place nationally.
Expectations are high heading into this year, and teams are looking to continue the momentum that Emory Athletics has built in recent seasons. Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or looking to watch something new, there’s year-round excitement across Emory’s sports for everyone.
