CLEVELAND, Ohio — Washington and Lee University athletics matched the highest finish in program history and recorded its best-ever Learfield Directors' Cup point total, placing 12th in the final 2025-26 Division III Learfield Directors' Cup standings released by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) on Tuesday afternoon.
The Generals accumulated a school-record 803.75 points, eclipsing the 800-point mark for the first time in institutional history. The total surpassed the previous department record of 791.5 points set in 2024-25 and helped Washington and Lee tie its highest-ever national finish of 12th, previously achieved in 2018 and 2022.
Washington and Lee's ascent was fueled by a historic spring campaign that produced 394.75 points during the championship season, the highest single-season total in program history. Women's golf led the charge with 80 points following a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships, while men's golf added 72.5 points after placing sixth nationally. Women's tennis contributed 73 points with its run to the NCAA Quarterfinals, and men's lacrosse added 64 points. Women's lacrosse and men's tennis each supplied 50 points, while women's outdoor track and field contributed five points behind a trio of All-America performances.
The Generals were also the top-performing institution in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), finishing well ahead of conference rivals Lynchburg, which placed 35th with 493.50 points, and Randolph-Macon, which finished 61st with 312.50 points.
The final standings were topped by Washington University in St. Louis, which claimed its first Learfield Directors' Cup title with 1,266.50 points. Tufts finished second with 1,252.50 points, followed by Johns Hopkins in third with 1,180.00 points. Emory placed fourth with 1,066.00 points, while Williams rounded out the top five with 1,063.75 points.
The Learfield Directors' Cup recognizes broad-based excellence in collegiate athletics and awards points based on institutional finishes at NCAA Championships. In Division III, scores from 18 sports are counted in the final standings, including men's and women's soccer and men's and women's basketball, plus the next 14 highest-scoring sports regardless of gender.
Washington and Lee's 12th-place finish marks the latest milestone in a sustained stretch of national success across the Generals' athletic programs and highlights one of the most successful all-around athletic years in school history.
View the interactive standings |
DIII Conference Standings |
NACDA Release |
2025-26 W&L Athletics Profile
Sortable W&L Directors' Cup Historical Results
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Washington and Lee |
12 |
803.75 |
ODAC |
III |
181 |
228 |
394.75 |
2026 |
| Washington and Lee |
12 |
767.5 |
ODAC |
III |
267.5 |
155.5 |
344.5 |
2022 |
| Washington and Lee |
12 |
669.5 |
ODAC |
III |
208 |
115.5 |
346 |
2018 |
| Washington and Lee |
13 |
791.5 |
ODAC |
III |
343.5 |
126 |
322 |
2025 |
| Washington and Lee |
16 |
714.25 |
ODAC |
III |
208.5 |
125 |
380.75 |
2024 |
| Washington and Lee |
17 |
674.75 |
ODAC |
III |
207 |
92.5 |
375.25 |
2023 |
| Washington and Lee |
17 |
576 |
ODAC |
III |
112 |
112 |
352 |
2019 |
| Washington and Lee |
19 |
421 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2004 |
| Washington and Lee |
25 |
508.25 |
ODAC |
III |
154 |
95.5 |
258.75 |
2017 |
| Washington and Lee |
27 |
435.5 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2007 |
| Washington and Lee |
28 |
510 |
ODAC |
III |
106 |
129.5 |
274.5 |
2016 |
| Washington and Lee |
32 |
332.5 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2006 |
| Washington and Lee |
34 |
394 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2008 |
| Washington and Lee |
41 |
343.5 |
ODAC |
III |
25 |
100.5 |
218 |
2009 |
| Washington and Lee |
42 |
281 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2003 |
| Washington and Lee |
47 |
352.6 |
ODAC |
III |
25 |
101.6 |
226 |
2015 |
| Washington and Lee |
47 |
262 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2002 |
| Washington and Lee |
50 |
219.5 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
1996 |
| Washington and Lee |
54 |
287 |
ODAC |
III |
83 |
44 |
160 |
2013 |
| Washington and Lee |
59 |
219.5 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
1999 |
| Washington and Lee |
66 |
290 |
ODAC |
III |
25 |
36.5 |
228.5 |
2014 |
| Washington and Lee |
66 |
251 |
ODAC |
III |
75 |
0 |
176 |
2011 |
| Washington and Lee |
67 |
248 |
ODAC |
III |
50 |
45 |
153 |
2010 |
| Washington and Lee |
71 |
184 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
2001 |
| Washington and Lee |
101 |
60 |
ODAC |
III |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
Not Reported |
1998 |
| Washington and Lee |
103 |
197.5 |
ODAC |
III |
0 |
58.5 |
139 |
2012 |
About LEARFIELD Directors' Cup and LEARFIELD
The LEARFIELD Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's performance in NCAA postseason championships and respective tournaments.
Please note that standings published midseason are unofficial. Official standings will be released upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's websites: www.directorscup.org and www.thedirectorscup.com.
LEARFIELD is a leader in media, data, and technology services within intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform offering innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD's services include licensing and multimedia sponsorship management for collegiate sports properties; publishing; audio, digital, and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; ticket sales; premium seating and fundraising services; branding; and campus-wide business and sponsorship development.
Since 2008, LEARFIELD has served as the title sponsor for NACDA's acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, which recognizes athletic departments across all divisions.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
