Women's Athletics Historical Timeline Year Event 1976 Fencing becomes first women's varsity sport 1976 Women's Tennis becomes a varsity sport 1977 Women's Basketball becomes a varsity sport 1978 Field Hockey becomes a varsity sport 1980 Volleyball becomes a varsity sport 1981 Women's Swimming and Diving becomes a varsity sport 1986 Women's Cross Country becomes a varsity sport 1987 Women's Fencing wins NCAA title Field hockey discontinued as a varsity sport following the season 1988 Women's Soccer becomes a varsity sport Women's Golf becomes a varsity sport 1989 Softball becomes a varsity sport 1991 Women's Track and Field becomes a varsity sport 1994 Women's Fencing wins NCAA title 1995 Women's Soccer wins NCAA title 1996 Women's Lacrosse becomes a varsity sport 1998 Rowing becomes a varsity sport 2001 Notre Dame commits to fund women's athletics NCAA maximum allotment of scholarships Women's Basketball wins NCAA title 2003 Fencing wins NCAA title (combined with the men's team) 2004 Women's soccer wins NCAA title 2005 Fencing wins NCAA title (combined with the men's team) 2004-05 385 female athletes participate in varsity sports at Notre Dame