PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Western Connecticut State University women's golf team, which will be competing in its second-ever season in 2025-26, will have a chance to win a conference title this time around, as the Little East Conference (LEC) has announced the addition of women's golf as the league's 24th championship sport. On behalf of the LEC Presidents Council, Commissioner Al Bean made the announcement effective in the 2025-26 academic year, with planning to conduct the inaugural championship tournament to begin immediately. WestConn women's golf is coached by Adam Lanehart (2nd Season), and the Wolves are set to begin their playing season at the Keene Invitational in New Hampshire on September 28.
LEC women's golf will launch with five primary member institutions - Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College, Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State University - and two affiliate members in Husson University and Westfield State University. Per NCAA Division III rules, the LEC will undergo a two-year process to acquire automatic qualification to the national championship.
"It's very exciting to announce the addition of women's golf as our 13th Little East Conference sport for women," said Bean. "Participation in women's golf continues to grow and provides a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes to enhance their opportunities for competition, and participate in a very challenging and enjoyable life-long sport. I look forward with great anticipation to our first conference championship tournament this fall."
There has been rapid growth in the sponsorship of women's golf among the LEC's primary membership in recent years. Eastern Connecticut announced the sport addition just two months ago, while USM and WestConn played their inaugural seasons in 2024-25 and Keene State began play in 2022-23. Women's golf was first sponsored by RIC in 2016-17. Husson and Westfield State bring two well-established women's golf program's to the LEC; the Owls' women's golf program began varsity play in 2009-10, while the Eagles launched women's golf for the 2015-16 academic year.
