Greenville, S.C. – Furman women's lacrosse will be joining the Big South Conference as an associate member beginning with the 2022 season, it was announced today by the league office.

The Paladins are one of three teams from the Southern Conference, which announced it is no longer sponsoring the sport following the 2021 season, to join the Big South along with Mercer and Wofford. The addition of the three programs will give the Big South a league-high 10. The conference also consists of Campbell, Gardner-Webb, High Point, Longwood, Presbyterian College, Radford and Winthrop.

"First, I want to say thank you to the Southern Conference for having women's lacrosse these past four years," said Paladin head coach Rachel Whitten. "While we are sad to see it end, joining the Big South is going to be a new opportunity for Furman lacrosse. The location of a majority of the schools in the Big South made sense for us geographically as well as the competition we will have. We look forward to working hard and holding ourselves to a high standard as we represent the Big South."

Furman began its women's lacrosse program in 2015 and recently completed its seventh season of competition, all under the direction of Whitten. The Paladins have compiled 68 victories all-time, while winning two SoCon Regular Season Championships in 2019 and 2021. The Paladins boast 21 All-Conference performers, two league Freshman of the Year selections, one league Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year performers, and one Coach of the Year honoree.

Furman is coming off a 12-5 overall record, tying a school record for victories, and an unbeaten 4-0 conference record in 2021, highlighted by a program-best eight-game winning streak. Whitten was named SoCon Coach of the Year while the Paladins garnered the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, the first in program history, and Freshman of the Year. Furman had a total of nine players be named All-SoCon.

Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference is an exemplary leader in college athletics, dedicated to developing student-athletes through the pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community and field of play. The league's growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is made evident by its multitude of athletic accomplishments, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and most importantly, its commitment to fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes.