SFA must maintain all women’s sports teams

NACOGDOCHES — A judge ruled on Thursday that Stephen F. Austin State University must maintain all existing women’s sports teams, after the university cut several sports teams in August 2025. According to our news partner KETK, a U.S. District Judge approved a stipulated agreement requiring SFA to continue its current women’s teams with funding, staffing and benefits comparable to other varsity intercollegiate programs while the plaintiffs’ claims proceed in court.

“We are pleased that SFA has entered into this agreement, which will preserve the existing women`s teams and allow the case to move forward as quickly as possible,” the Arthur Bryant Law Firm said in a statement.

The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by several women athletes in August 2025 alleging the Nacogdoches-based university violated their Title IX rights when it decided to cut the women’s beach volleyball and bowling teams, as well as the women’s and men’s golf programs.