Every September, the University of Louisville welcomes more than 3,000 new students to Belknap Campus. In just a couple of months, an equal number of new faces will occupy a wide variety of residences around the primary campus. This post is for them, hopefully providing a head start on UofL tradition.
Welcome to UofL to all the aspiring newcomers who will be freshmen in the next academic year. You’ll quickly find that school spirit and athletics play a huge role in campus life. The Louisville Cardinals, the university’s athletic teams, compete in a variety of sports and are known for their competitive edge. Here’s a guide to the major sports teams at UofL:
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball program is one of the most prominent and successful in the nation. Established in 1911, the Cardinals have a storied history which includes three NCAA national championships (1980, 1986, and 2013) and numerous Final Four appearances. The team plays its home games at the KFC Yum! Center, a 22,000-seat arena known for its electric atmosphere and passionate fans. Louisville’s men’s basketball program has produced many NBA players, including Wesley Unseld, Darrell Griffith, Donovan Mitchell and Terry Rozier, among many others.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team, established in 1975, has also seen significant success. Under the leadership of Coach Jeff Walz, the team has made multiple NCAA tournament appearances, reached the Final Four four times (2009, 2013, 2018, and 2022) and competed in two national championship games. Angel McCoughtry was the top draft pick in the WNBA in 2009. The team also plays at the KFC Yum! Center and has a dedicated fan base with an average attendance of more than 9,000 fans per game.
Football
Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy at UofL and has twice been named MVP in the National Football League. The team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and has a rich history of success, including wins in the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. The team plays at Cardinal Stadium, a 60,000-seat which has been expanded three times since opening in 1998. One of the most famous players is Lamar Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2016 and has become the face of the Baltimore Ravens franchise. With the College Football Playoffs expanding to 12 teams, Louisville has an excellent chance in the coming years of finding themselves in the postseason.
Baseball
UofL’s baseball team has consistently been one of the top programs in the country. The team plays at 3,500-seat Jim Patterson Stadium, a facility known for its great atmosphere and supportive crowds. The Cardinals have a total of five College World Series appearances and have had more than 50 players drafted by teams in Major League Baseball.
Soccer
The University of Louisville boasts strong men’s and women’s soccer teams. Both teams play at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility that enhances the game-day experience for players and fans alike. The men’s soccer team has made multiple NCAA tournament appearances, including a national championship game in 2013. The women’s team continues to grow and compete at a high level in the ACC.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball team, under Coach Dani Busboom-Kelly, has appeared in the Final Four in two of the last three seasons, including the national championship game in 2023. Games at L&N Arena on campus are consistently sold out but the team also plays some top level opponents at the KFC Yum! Center downtown.
Swimming and Diving
Beyond these major sports, the University of Louisville offers a wide range of other athletic programs. The volleyball team is highly competitive, regularly participating in NCAA tournaments. The swimming and diving teams have also achieved national recognition and international recognition in international Olympics competition.
Other
Additionally, the track and field, cross country, and golf teams provide opportunities for student-athletes to excel in their respective sports. Numerous athletes have competed in international Olympics competition in recent years.
Get Your L’s Up
You’ll impress older classmates and fellow freshman if you master the L’s up sign before you get to Louisville. Quite simply, using your thumb and the index and the adjacent fingers to create the letter L. The top fingers form an U, and in conjunction with the thumb signify UofL.
UofL athletic programs are an integral part of the university’s identity and community. Whether you’re cheering on the Cardinals at a basketball game in the KFC Yum! Center or catching a football game at L&N Cardinal Stadium, you’ll find that Louisville’s athletic programs offer excitement, competition, and a strong sense of school and community pride.
Go Cards!