The Stanford Cardinal are the athletic teams that represent Stanford University. Stanford's teams compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for college football) level, primarily in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Stanford's program has won 139 NCAA team championships, the most of any university. Stanford has won at least one NCAA team championship in 50 consecutive academic years, starting in 1976–77 and continuing through 2025–26. Through July 2026, Stanford athletes have won 576 individual NCAA titles.
Stanford has won 26 of the 32 NACDA Directors' Cups, awarded annually to the most successful overall college sports program in the nation, including 25 consecutive Cups from 1994–95 through 2018–19. 177 Stanford-affiliated athletes have won a total of 335 Summer Olympic medals (162 gold, 93 silver, 80 bronze), including 39 medals at the 2024 Paris games.
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Nickname and mascot history
A brighter Cardinal red was chosen as Stanford's official color by an assembly of the university's first students in 1891. White was adopted as a secondary color in the 1940s.
Following Stanford's win over California in the first-ever Big Game on March 19, 1892, the team was metonymically referred to as the "Cardinal" by sportswriters in the next day's San Francisco Chronicle. The university's athletic teams continued to be referred to as the "Cardinal" or "Cardinals" even after the adoption of the "Indians" name.
On November 25, 1930, following a unanimous vote by the Executive Committee for the Associated Students, the athletic department adopted the mascot "Indian".
On March 3, 1972, a few months after the football team's second straight win in the Rose Bowl, the Indian symbol and name were dropped by Stanford president Richard Lyman after objections from Native American students and a vote by the student senate.
From 1972 to 1981, the official nickname returned to "Cardinals", a reference to the color, not the bird. During the 1970s, a number of suggestions were put forth as possible nicknames: Robber Barons (a sly reference to Leland Stanford's history), Sequoias, Trees, Railroaders, Spikes, Huns and Griffins. The last suggestion gained enough momentum to prompt the athletics department to move two griffin statues from the site of the former Stanford Home for Convalescent Children to near the athletic facilities.
On November 17, 1981, school president Donald Kennedy declared that the athletic teams be represented by the color cardinal in its singular form.
Stanford has no official mascot, but the Stanford Tree, a member of the Stanford Band wearing a self-designed tree costume, appears at major Stanford sports events. The Tree is based on El Palo Alto, a redwood tree in neighboring Palo Alto that appears in the Stanford seal and athletics logo.
Sports sponsored
Stanford University sponsors 36 varsity sports teams — 15 men's, 19 women's, and two coed sports — competing primarily in the NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), with the primary affiliation recently changed from the Pac-12 Conference.
Among sports not sponsored by the ACC, men's rowing and women's lightweight rowing compete in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association; men's gymnastics, men's volleyball, beach volleyball, and men's and women's water polo all compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF); sailing in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association; squash in the College Squash Association; and artistic swimming under the sport's US governing body of USA Synchro.
In July 2020, due to increased financial constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Stanford Athletics announced they will be eliminating 11 varsity teams after the conclusion of the 2020–21 academic year: men's and women's fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men's rowing, co-ed and women's sailing, squash, artistic swimming, men's volleyball and wrestling. These planned cuts were canceled in May 2021.
Baseball
The Cardinal have appeared in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament 35 times, and have appeared in the College World Series 19 times. They have won two National Championships, in 1987 and 1988.
Men's golf
The men's golf team has won eight NCAA Championships: 1939, 1941, 1942 (co-champions), 1946, 1953, 1994, 2007, 2019. They have crowned three individual national champions: Sandy Tatum (1942), Tiger Woods (1996), and Cameron Wilson (2014). They have won 12 Pac-12 Conference championships: 1960, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1977 (south), 1992, 1994, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2023 and one Atlantic Coast Conference championship: 2026. Other notable players include Tom Watson, Bob Rosburg, NFL quarterback John Brodie, and Notah Begay III.
Women's golf
Stanford golfers have won individual golf championships four times. In 1971, Shelley Hamlin won the women's national intercollegiate individual golf championship (an event conducted by the Division of Girls' and Women's Sports, which evolved into the current NCAA women's golf championship). More recently, Stanford golfers won individual NCAA titles three years in a row: Rachel Heck in 2021, Rose Zhang in 2022, and Rose Zhang again in 2023. Zhang is the only woman who has ever won two NCAA individual titles.
Stanford has won the NCAA team championship four times: in 2015, 2022, 2024, and 2026. From 2015 to the present, the championship has been determined by match play. Stanford is the only team to reach the match play portion of the championship every year it has been offered.
Sailing
Stanford Sailing has won the following Intercollegiate Sailing Association championship events:
the ICSA Open Fleet Race Championship in 2023 and 2025
the ICSA Open Team Race Championship in 1997
the ICSA Women's Fleet Race Championship from 2023 through 2026
the ICSA Women's Team Race Championship from 2024 through 2026
the ICSA Men's Singlehanded Championship in 1963, 2006, and 2022
the ICSA Women's Singlehanded Championship in 2000 and 2018
In 2023 and 2025, Stanford Sailing won the Leonard M. Fowle Trophy, which the ICSA awards annually to the best overall college team.
In March 2019, John Vandemoer, Stanford University's head sailing coach for 11 years, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering for accepting bribes in the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal, to hold open admission spots at the university for three applicants falsely portrayed as competitive sailors, in exchange for $770,000 in payments to the sailing program. Unlike others indicted in the scheme, he did not personally benefit financially. The university fired Vandemoer. Clinton Hayes was appointed interim head coach.
Men's soccer
The Cardinal have appeared in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament 20 times, including in 8 consecutive years from 2013 through 2020. They have seven appearances in the College Cup, winning the national championship in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Women's soccer
The Cardinal won the NCAA women's soccer championship in 2011, 2017, and 2019.
Softball
The Cardinal softball team has appeared in four Women's College World Series, in 2001, 2004, 2023, and 2024. The Cardinal program was the co-champions of the PAC-10 conference in 2005, which is their only conference championship. The current head softball coach of the Stanford program is Jessica Allister.
Men's tennis
The Cardinal have won 17 NCAA Men's tennis championships: 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2000.
Women's tennis
The Cardinal have won 20 of the 43 NCAA women's tennis team championships that have taken place, winning in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987 through 1991, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004 through 2006, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Stanford also won the 1978 women's tennis championship, awarded by the AIAW. 2023 was the first year in which Stanford held fewer than half of the NCAA team championships ever awarded.
Stanford tennis players have won the individual singles championship many times:
Stanford tennis players have also won the doubles championship many times:
Future astronaut Sally Ride was the team's top player in 1971. The NCAA later honored her with two awards given to former college athletes who distinguished themselves in their professional lives: the Silver Anniversary Award in 1998, and the Theodore Roosevelt Award, described as the highest honor the NCAA may confer on an individual, in 2005.
Men's volleyball
The Stanford Cardinal men's volleyball team represents Stanford in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. They are currently led by head coach John Kosty, who took the job in 2007, and play their home games at Maples Pavilion. The team has won two NCAA National Championships (1997 and 2010), plus earned NCAA Runner-up twice, as well.
Women's volleyball
The Cardinal have won 9 NCAA Women's volleyball national championships: in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Stanford has appeared in 17 championship games, more than any other team. Stanford has qualified for 42 of the 43 NCAA tournaments, missing the postseason only during the COVID-shortened 2020–21 season. Only Penn State has appeared in all 43 tournaments.
Women's water polo
The Cardinal have won 10 NCAA national championships in women's water polo, more than any other university: in 2002, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025. Stanford is the only program that has participated in every NCAA Championship since the event began in 2001. Stanford has advanced to the title match in 13 of the last 15 championships.
Wrestling
The Stanford wrestling team is coached by Rob Koll, replacing Jason Borelli after he took the head coaching job at American University in 2021. In his 13 years as head coach, Borelli led the Cardinal to 122 dual wins, making him Stanford's winningest coach. The Cardinal wrestlers practice in the Weintz Family Wrestling Room, and compete on campus at Burnham Pavilion, with a capacity of about 1,400.
The Cardinal wrestling team won the Pac-12 championship once, in 2019. They have placed in the top 19 at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships eight times: in 1967 (13th), 2004 (19th), 2008 (19th), 2011 (11th), 2012 (16th), 2016 (19th), 2021 (17th), and 2022 (19th). Stanford has three individual wrestling national champions in its history: Matt Gentry at 157 pounds in 2004, Shane Griffith at 165 pounds in 2021, and Aden Valencia at 149 pounds in 2026.
Stanford's wrestling program was one of the eleven the school planned on eliminating after the 2020–21 season. In response, the team wore solid black singlets without the school logo. Wrestling fans also led a movement to keep the program afloat, before the school ultimately reversed its decision.
Notable non-varsity sports
Rugby
Stanford has fielded a college rugby team since 1906, and replaced football entirely until 1917. Stanford achieved one of the most surprising victories of American rugby's early history by beating a touring Australian club team in 1912. Rugby remained a varsity sport at Stanford until 1977. Despite the loss of varsity status, the Stanford Rugby Foundation covers many of the team's expenses from an endowment fund. Rugby is one of the largest sports programs on campus with over 100 players. Stanford Rugby is led by Director of Rugby Matt Sherman, who has served as an assistant coach for the U.S. men's national team.
From 1996 to 1998 Stanford reached the national semifinals in three consecutive years, finishing second in 1998. During the 2010–11 season, Stanford was champion of the Northern California conference, reached the national quarterfinals, and finished the season ranked 4th in D1-AA rugby. Following the 2011–12 season, Stanford were promoted to Division 1-A and played in the California conference, but have since returned to Division 1-AA and now play in the Pacific Western conference. Stanford won the Pacific Western conference in 2014, earning a berth in the D1-AA national playoffs, where they defeated Oregon 24–12 at home in front of a strong crowd, before losing to Arizona 27–24 in the quarterfinals.
Championships
NCAA team championships
Stanford has won 139 NCAA team national championships, the most of any NCAA Division I school. Stanford has won these NCAA team championships in 20 different sports.
Men's (71)
Baseball (2): 1987, 1988
Basketball (1): 1942
Cross country (4): 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003
Golf † (8): 1939, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1953, 1994, 2007, 2019
Gymnastics (11): 1992, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
Outdoor track & field (4): 1925 (unofficial), 1928, 1934, 2000
Soccer (3): 2015, 2016, 2017
Swimming (8): 1967, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998
Tennis (17): 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
Volleyball (2): 1997, 2010
Water polo (11): 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2019
Women's (68)
Basketball (3): 1990, 1992, 2021
Cross country (5): 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
Golf (4): 2015, 2022, 2024, 2026
Rowing (3): 2009, 2023, 2025
Other national team championships
Below are 40 national team titles in NCAA sports that were not bestowed by the NCAA:
Men's (18)
Basketball (1): 1937 (retroactive Helms and Premo-Porretta selectors)
Football (2): 1926, 1940
Golf (1): 1938
Tennis (1): 1942 ‡
Tennis (12) (indoor): 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002 (ITA)
Water polo (1): 1963 (coaches' poll)
Women's (22)
Rowing (9) (lightweight): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (IRA)
Swimming (1): 1980 (AIAW)
Tennis (1): 1978 (AIAW)
Tennis (10) (indoor): 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011 (ITA)
Water polo (1): 1985 (club team, USA Water Polo)
‡ Unofficial by virtue of winning both the collegiate individual and doubles crowns of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association
Below are 53 national team titles won by Stanford varsity and club sports teams at the highest collegiate levels in non-NCAA sports:
Men's (5)
Rugby (1) (Div. II): 2002
Consecutive years winning NCAA team championships
Stanford has won at least one NCAA team championship in 50 consecutive academic years, starting in 1976–77 and continuing through 2025–26. This is the longest such streak in NCAA Division I history. The second-longest streak ever was 19 years, achieved by USC, which won at least one NCAA team championship every year from 1959–60 through 1977–78. As of the end of the 2025–26 academic year, the second-longest active streak is six years, shared by five schools: Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, and Virginia.
The most NCAA team championships Stanford has won in a single year is six in 1996–97 (men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's volleyball) and again in 2018–19 (men's golf and gymnastics and women's volleyball, swimming, tennis and water polo). Stanford has won five NCAA team championships in a year three times (1991–92, 1994–95, and 1997–98). Stanford won three of the seven NCAA team championships awarded in the 2019–20 academic year, when, due to COVID, only the fall sports were contested.
Stanford has won two NCAA team championships in a single day three times: in men's and women's cross-country on November 25, 1996; in men's and women's cross-country on November 24, 2003; and in men's water polo and women's soccer on December 8, 2019.
NCAA individual championships
As of July, 2026, Stanford athletes have won 576 NCAA individual championships and 668 individual championships overall. Stanford's 576 individual championships are the most individual championships won by any school in NCAA Division I. No other Division I school is within 100 of Stanford's total.
Directors' Cups
The NACDA Directors' Cup is awarded at the end of every academic year to the most successful overall sports program in NCAA Division I. As of the 2025-2026 academic year, it has been awarded 32 times. Stanford won the Directors' Cup 26 times, finished second 5 times, and finished third once. Stanford won 25 years in a row, from 1994–95 through 2018–19, and won again in 2022–23.
The Directors' Cup is awarded by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). The Directors' Cup rewards broad-based success in both men's and women's college sports. Points are awarded based on post-season success in NCAA-sponsored sports.
Athletic facilities
Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation — Fencing, squash
Arrillaga Family Rowing and Sailing Center — Men's and women's rowing, Women's lightweight rowing, sailing
Avery Aquatic Center — Men's and women's swimming and diving, women's artistic swimming, men's and women's water polo
Burnham Pavilion — Men's and women's gymnastics, wrestling
Cobb Track and Angell Field — Men's and women's track and field
Klein Field at Sunken Diamond — Baseball
Maloney Field at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium — Men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse
Maples Pavilion — Men's and women's basketball, men's and women's volleyball
Red Barn — Equestrian
Smith Family Stadium — Softball
Stanford Beach Volleyball Stadium — Beach volleyball
Stanford Golf Course — Men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf
Stanford Stadium — Football; also used for softball in the 2025 season during renovation of Smith Family Stadium
Taube Tennis Center — Men's and women's tennis
Varsity Field Hockey Turf — Women's field hockey
Rivals
The Cardinal's rivals consist of California, Notre Dame, San Jose State, and USC, which all primarily evolved from American football.
Olympics representation
Stanford athletes have traditionally been very well represented at the Summer Olympics. 196 Stanford-affiliated athletes have won a total of 335 Summer Olympic medals: 162 gold, 93 silver, 80 bronze. The table below lists the number of medals won by Stanford-affiliated athletes in recent Olympic Games.
Stanford does not compete at the varsity level in any events contested at the Winter Olympics. Stanford students and alums who have won Winter Olympic medals include Zoe Atkin, John Coyle, Eileen Gu, Eric Heiden, Sami Jo Small, and Debi Thomas. Most recently, at the 2026 Milano Cortino Winter Olympics, Eileen Gu medaled in all three women’s freestyle skiing events, winning gold in the freeski halfpipe, silver in slopestyle, and silver in big air. Zoe Atkin won bronze in the freeski halfpipe.
Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame
The Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame was established on December 21, 1954. Envisioned by Walt Gamage, sports editor of the now-defunct Palo Alto Times, the first class of inductees consisted of 34 Stanford sports greats. New members are inducted annually and are recognized during halftime of a home Stanford football game. The Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame Room is located on the first floor of the Arrillaga Family Sports Center on the Stanford campus.