By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's rowing team is primed for the postseason after winnings its race Saturday in the Opening Day Regatta as part of the Windermere Cup festivities on Montlake Cut.
The No. 1 nationally ranked NCAA II Vikings won the Open 8+ race with a speedy time of 6:56.405, finishing ahead of the host Huskies (7:01.273), PLU (7:10.975) and Seattle Pacific (7:43.130).
"There is nothing like racing through the Cut on Opening Day. The energy, the competition, the crowd … it's the greatest rowing spectacle in the world," said WWU head coach Courtney Moeller. "It was a great race day experience for our crew and coming away with a win made it even more special. Windermere and UW put on a fantastic event and the entire day was an awesome experience for our student-athletes and program."
WWU was coming off a great performance at the WIRA Championships last weekend on Lake Natoma, setting the stage for the GNAC Championships that will be held May 16 on Lake Natoma outside of Sacramento.
OPENING DAY REGATTA RESULTS
Here is a look at results from WWU's result from Saturday at the Opening Day Regatta as part of the Windermere Cup festivities on Montlake Cut.
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OPENING DAY REGATTA
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Event
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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Open 8+
Lane 4
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WWU
(6:56.405)
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UW
(7:01.273)
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PLU
(7:10.975)
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SPU
(7:43.130)
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Here is a look at the lineup for the Vikings Varsity 8+ that raced Saturday in the Opening Day Regatta:
The Opening Day Regatta and Windermere Cup on the Montlake Cut is held in conjunction with the Seattle Yacht Club's Opening Day parade, which signals the beginning of boating season in Seattle. The entire event is a joint effort between Washington Rowing, the Seattle Yacht Club and Windermere Real Estate, with Windermere serving as the title sponsor of the main racing events. The 2026 Windermere Cup is the 40th edition of the rowing spectacle.
Here is a look at the current CRCA Coaches Poll with the Vikings owning the top spot in the week eight rankings, with WWU receiving all the first-place votes:
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Rank
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Team
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1.
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Western Washington (4)
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2.
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Cal Poly Humboldt
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3.
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Embry-Riddle
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4.
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Seattle Pacific
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5.
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Rollins College
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6.
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Central Oklahoma
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7.
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Thomas Jefferson
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8.
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Nova Southeastern
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The Vikings are back in action Saturday, May 16 at the 2026 GNAC Rowing Championships with the regatta held on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. WWU will race against Cal Poly Humboldt, Seattle Pacific and Central Oklahoma for the GNAC title. The complete 2026 WWU rowing schedule can be found online at WWUVikings.com.
WWU Rowing is one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country across all divisions, having won nine NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings won the 2024 NCAA II National title, the 2017 title, placed 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2019 and runner-up in 2022. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 21 of the 23 NCAA Division II national regattas, taking home the gold (9 times), silver (5 times) and bronze (6) medal 20 times in the 23 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium 20 times. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011.
WWU Rowing Inside the Numbers:
21 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 23)
16 – Individual Championships (Eights-7, Fours-9)
9 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017, 2024)
6 – 3rd Place Finishes at Nationals
5 – National Runner-Up Finishes
2 – GNAC Championships (in 5-year history of event)
