How Non-Revenue Sports Carried The Torch For Rutgers Athletics in 2025-26

For years, the conversation around Rutgers athletics has revolved around football Saturdays and the pressure surrounding men’s basketball. Those programs still mattered this season — and still shaped plenty of the national perception around Rutgers sports — but the real story of the year came from just about everywhere else. This was a year where non-revenue sports carried the department with consistency, postseason success, program-defining moments, and genuine momentum.

From women’s lacrosse making noise nationally to gymnastics reaching historic heights, Rutgers athletics quietly put together one of its strongest all-around years in recent memory. Starting in the fall, Rutgers men’s soccer took major strides forward, as did volleyball, which was relatively competitive after suffering an awful record a season before. Women’s soccer took an unfortunate step back this year, snapping its long NCAA Tournament streak, but field hockey turned in another strong showing as one of Rutgers’ premier non-revenue sports.

The biggest breakthrough came from Rutgers women’s lacrosse, which punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament and pushed top programs often this season. Melissa Lehman’s group didn’t just reach the NCAA Tournament — they looked like a program ready to stay there. Rutgers earned an at-large berth, defeated #17 Princeton in the opening round 12-11, and pushed perennial powerhouse Maryland Terrapins in the second round after falling behind early, bowing out 11-8.

More importantly, the Scarlet Knights established an identity. Caroline Ling became one of the best offensive players in program history, Lily Dixon rewrote the assist record books, and Katie Buck dominated draw controls all season long. Rutgers finished with multiple ranked wins and one of the most successful campaigns the program has ever seen.