On March 20, 2018, EMU announced the elimination of four sports: Wrestling, softball, men's swimming and diving, and women's tennis. Despite the dismal record over the years, football was not considered for elimination. NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision regulations mandate that each member school must field at least 16 varsity sports and the Mid-American Conference mandates football for its members. Despite a court order to restart the softball team to satisfy a Title IX dispute, EMU stated a preference to add women's lacrosse, citing costs compared to softball as well as growing youth participation numbers for lacrosse. In November 2019, EMU officially announced the addition of women's lacrosse. The news coincided with the news of the MAC beginning sponsorship of the sport in 2021. EMU will join five other MAC members fielding women's lacrosse for the conference's second season in 2022.