BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University campus has been quite with summer quarter wrapping up, but it's about to get busy with several WWU Athletics programs reporting for duty to get ready for the fast-approaching fall seasons.
 
Three teams are set to report to campus this Sunday, August 18 for check-in and a compliance meeting, with the first practices for volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer set for Monday, August 19. The first preseason exhibition matches will be held Thursday, August 22 (women's soccer vs. Victoria) and Friday, August 23 (men's soccer vs. Trinity Western).
 
The first week of practices often include two-a-day trainings and each team will hold media day gathering photo and video content to be used during the upcoming season.
 
The official Opening Day for the fall sports season is scheduled for Thursday, September 5 with volleyball hosting the WWU Invitational on WECU Court in Carver Gym and the men's and women's soccer teams hosting matches at Harrington Field. A complete listing of all events is available online at WWUVikings.com.
 
The defending GNAC champion cross country program is scheduled to report to campus on Sunday, August 25 with a two-day preseason retreat planned to take place on Samish Island.
 
The men's and women's golf teams will report on September 11-12 leading up to fall tournaments in mid-September.
 
The defending GNAC Tournament champion women's basketball team has already reported to campus leading up to their upcoming international tour to Costa Rica and be back on campus to begin preparations for the 2024-25 season back in mid-September.
 
The men's basketball team will also have an early-September report date with an exciting 10-player incoming recruiting class joining a strong set of returning players.
 
Coming off an appearance in the national championship series, the WWU Softball program begins preparations for its fall schedule with a report date of September 12.
 
Here is a breakdown of upcoming report dates for the following WWU Athletics teams:
 

• Volleyball (Sunday, August 18) – first practice Aug. 19
• Women's Soccer (Sunday, August 18) – first practice Aug. 19
• Men's Soccer (Sunday, August 18) – first practice Aug. 19
• Cross Country (Sunday, August 25) – first practice Aug. 26
• Men's Basketball (September 8 or September 9)
• Men's Golf (Wednesday, September 11) – first practice Sept. 11
• Women's Golf (Thursday, September 12 – first practice Sept. 12
• Softball (Thursday, September 12) – first practice Sept. 12
• Track & Field (Tuesday, September 26)
• Rowing (TBD)

  Single-game tickets for all fall events are currently available for purchase online via WWUVikings.com/Tickets with Volleyball Season Tickets available at WWUVikings.com/VB_Tickets. The Junior Vikings program has also been reintroduced for the 2024-25 season with details at WWUVikings.com/JuniorVikings.
  For the second consecutive year, all current WWU students will receive free admission to regular-season home events on campus. Western students will just need to show their current W Card at the entrance to home ticketed contests for volleyball (Carver Gym), men's soccer (Harrington Field), women's soccer (Harrington Field), Men's Basketball (Carver Gym), Women's Basketball (Carver Gym) and Track & Field (Civic Stadium). Paid admission will be required for any conference or NCAA postseason events hosted by WWU. This exciting offer to students is made possible through a collaboration and sponsorship with WECU and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni.
  For any media inquiries on attending any of the practices for a fall sports team, please arrange through contacting Assistant AD for Athletic Communications Jeff Evans at jeff.evans@wwu.edu.
  With the 2024-25 season quickly approaching, here is a look inside the numbers detailing another successful year by WWU Athletics, both in competition and in the classroom. WWU's student-athletes have compiled an academic success rate at 90% or better in six of the last seven years, earning the NCAA's President's Award for Academic Excellence six times including in 2023-24.
 

• 1 – National Title by Women's Rowing

• 1 – National Runner-Up Finish by Softball
• 3 – Regional Titles Won By Softball, Women's Cross Country and Women's Rowing (WIRA)
• 10 – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Team Titles
• 10 – Teams (out of 15) that advanced to the NCAA Championships
• 13 – GNAC Team of the Week Awards
• 17 – All-America Awards
• 47 – GNAC Player of the Week Awards
• 49 – GNAC Far Academic Awards
• 73 – All-Region Awards
• 126 – GNAC All-Academic Honors
• 135 – All-GNAC Awards

  Western Washington University is a four-year public institution located in Bellingham, Washington, featuring over 300 student-athletes that compete for 15 intercollegiate athletic teams at the NCAA Division II level and in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. WWU Athletics has finished in the top 50 in the NCAA II Learfield Directors' Cup standings in 18 of the last 19 years. WWU's programs have won 13 team national championships, most recently the 2024 women's rowing team and the 2022 women's soccer team. Outside of competition. WWU's student-athletes have compiled an academic success rate at 90% or better in six of the last seven years, earning the NCAA's President's Award for Academic Excellence six times. The 2023-24 season was another banner year for the Vikings, earning the GNAC All-Sports Trophy for the third consecutive year and 15th time overall while capturing 10 conference titles. The women's rowing program won its ninth national title, the softball team reached the College World Series while earning national runner-up honors and the track & field and cross country program swept all six possible GNAC titles. Additional highlights included the women's cross country team winning the West Regional title, the women's basketball team advancing to the NCAA Championships for a fourth consecutive season and softball winning the West Regional title at home on Viking Field.
  For more information on WWU's 15 varsity sports programs, visit WWUVikings.com. Fans and alumni can also track all the teams via social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @WWUAthletics.