The 2021-2022 academic and athletic year will bring a special twist at Loyola University Maryland as the Greyhounds celebrate 50 Years of Loyola Women's Athletics.
 
In 1971, after nearly 120 years as an all-male college, Loyola merged with Mount Saint Agnes College, a women's Catholic institution run by the Sisters of Mercy. Since then, Loyola has made an effort to keep the memory of "The Mount" alive and to prioritize the expansion of educational opportunities to include all groups. As we approach the anniversary of 50 years of women and their contributions to the Evergreen campus, we will celebrate the accomplishments of coeducation throughout the 2021-22 academic year.
 
That year, the Greyhounds played their first-ever intercollegiate athletics events when the women's basketball team played a quartet of other Maryland schools – Bowie State, Notre Dame (Md.), Coppin State and Baltimore City Community College.
 
During the 2021-2022 season, the Greyhounds will honor the 50 Years of Loyola Women's Athletics through various events.
 
""It is an absolute honor to be part of the yearlong celebration at Loyola in recognition of five decades of women's excellence on campus and in athletics," said Donna M. Woodruff, Loyola's director of athletics and assistant vice president. "We owe much to the women of Mount Saint Agnes College, and to the scores of talented women who have since followed in their footsteps.  I look forward to celebrating the past while working to ensure the next 50 years of success for women at Loyola."

Philanthropy has played a significant role in Loyola athletics’ ability to provide the highest-level student-athlete experience possible, and through your support we can make certain the resources are available for all our female student-athletes to maximize their time as Greyhounds. 

Support a sport program… Every dollar donated to Loyola’s sport programs goes directly to the success of the team, its student-athletes and staff. Each year, programs depend on philanthropic support to cover a portion of their operating costs, and any funds received above and beyond operating can be used for program enhancements. It is through this type of support that our programs can go on team retreats and international trips, renovate their locker rooms, and invest in new technology. 

Support the Loyola Women’s Athletics Excellence Fund…This newly-established fund will bolster the pre-existing Greyhounds Athletics Fund, ensuring access to leadership development, conferences, and the annual Women in Sports Day event for Loyola’s female student-athletes. Beyond competition and the classroom, there are incredible opportunities to develop and prepare our athletes for life after Loyola. However, these experiences generate additional expenses for the athletics department and the Loyola Women’s Athletics Excellence Fund will provide these opportunities. 

If you are interested in showing your support for women’s athletics at Loyola, you can contribute directly to the Women's Athletics Excellence Fund by clicking HERE, or visit loyo.la/houndsgive to support one of our women's sport programs. If you would like to learn more about the impact of your donation or how to make a gift, please contact proud alumna Bailey Mathis ’17, Assistant Director of Athletics Development, at blmathis@loyola.edu or 410-617-5744