Washington University has a long and rich tradition of athletic achievement in men’s and women’s sports. As of 2003 Washington University fielded 18 varsity sports teams, and numerous intramural and club sports.

The Washington University Athletic Association, begun in 1884, sponsored intramural matches until 1890 when the first intercollegiate football match took place between the University ‘Varsity and the University of Missouri Tigers. After that successful Thanksgiving Day game Washington University entered into talks with Missouri and helped start the first state-wide Inter-Collegiate division, modeled on the Eastern league. Other early men’s sports included handball, track, hockey, and an attempt at crew (rowing). Football remained the largest focus for men’s sports until 1946 when Chancellor Compton embraced an amateur-only policy for athletics.  

For University women organized sports began in 1907, with first tennis and then basketball teams. In the spring of 1911 the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) was formed.  By 1918 women fielded interclass tennis, hockey, basketball, baseball, indoor track, swimming events.  In 1948 the WAA became the Women’s Recreational Association (WRA), and intercollegiate play was replaced with all intramural teams from sororities and academic classes. In the 1970s women returned to varsity level teams. In 1972, Carol Weston and two other women joined the previously all male varsity tennis team, and in 1974 Elli Richardson was the first women at Washington University to run on the men’s cross-country team.