Varsity lacrosse is on its way to the University of Pittsburgh. The school announced Thursday that it will add women’s lacrosse to its NCAA Division I offerings beginning in the 2021-22 academic year. It’s the first varsity program added at Pittsburgh since softball in 1997-98.

Upon its Division I debut, Pitt will join the Atlantic Coast Conference, becoming the ninth women’s lacrosse program in the conference (Boston College, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Notre Dame, Duke, Syracuse, Louisville).

In a press release from the school, Director of Athletics Heather Lyke said the school’s location will help attract quality lacrosse players.

"We believe our program will be highly attractive to outstanding prospective student-athletes as well as talented coaches who aspire to compete at the highest level in the nation's top lacrosse conference,” she said. “The breadth of exceptional talent here in Pennsylvania will be a major recruiting asset for our new coaching staff."

Pitt has historically had one of nation's most successful programs at the club level, competing in the US Lacrosse Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates. The Panthers have made 12 WCLA Division I tournament appearances in its 18 seasons, winning the national championship in 2014 and reaching the final in 2017.

Lyke said via the press release that it will hire a head women’s lacrosse coach for the varsity program following the 2019 season, helping get ready for the launch of the program in fall of 2021. 

The Panthers will join a league that has sent a team to the Division I national championship game in 10 straight seasons. Boston College has played in the national championship the last two seasons, falling in the final to James Madison in 2018 and Maryland in 2017. North Carolina won national titles in 2013 and 2016, Maryland won two NCAA championships (2010, 2014) during the stretch before leaving for the Big Ten in 2015 and Syracuse played in the NCAA final in 2012 and 2014.

"The collection of ACC women's lacrosse programs is extremely prestigious and we are pleased to have Pitt joining this elite group beginning with the 2021-22 season," ACC Commissioner John Swofford said. "The sport of women's lacrosse continues to experience positive growth, which directly creates additional opportunities for prospective student-athletes. This announcement is a win for Pitt, the ACC and our future student-athletes."

And as for whether this decision will have any influence in a future for men’s lacrosse at Pitt, Lyke said “there are no near-term plans” to add another lacrosse program, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“I would never say never,” she told Craig Meyer of the Post Gazette.