ULM Shocks Fans by Cutting Women’s Tennis Program Due to Financial Struggles…Read More…
In a move that has sent ripples through the collegiate sports world and drawn criticism from students, alumni, and athletes alike, the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) announced this week that it is discontinuing its women’s tennis program effective immediately. The university cited significant financial constraints and ongoing budgetary challenges as the driving force behind the difficult decision.
The announcement was made via a press release on Tuesday morning, catching many by surprise, including current players and coaching staff. The program, which has a storied history of developing competitive student-athletes and contributing to ULM’s athletic legacy, will now join a growing list of college sports casualties in the face of rising financial pressure on institutions.
Financial Realities Behind the Cut
ULM Athletic Director John Hartwell addressed the media later in the day, delivering the sobering news in a press conference held at the university’s Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
“This was not an easy decision,” Hartwell said. “We understand the impact this will have on our student-athletes, coaches, and the broader ULM community. However, with limited financial resources and increasing costs to maintain NCAA compliance and provide a competitive environment, we had to make a decision that would ultimately help stabilize our athletic department.”
According to Hartwell, the move is expected to save the university an estimated $350,000 annually in operational costs, scholarships, travel expenses, equipment, and facilities upkeep. While this may seem like a small fraction of ULM’s overall athletic budget, administrators argue it’s a necessary step to prevent deeper cuts to more financially sustainable sports programs.
Fallout and Reactions
The decision has been met with heartbreak and outrage, especially from the athletes and coaching staff directly impacted.
Sophomore team captain Madison Rivera expressed her devastation in a tearful Instagram post:
“We gave everything for this team — the 5 a.m. practices, the long bus rides, the matches we played through injury. To have our team erased like this with no warning… it’s like we never mattered.”
The players, many of whom were recruited from out of state and even internationally, now face an uncertain future. Some are scrambling to find new programs to transfer to in order to continue their collegiate tennis careers, while others may be forced to forgo playing entirely to stay at ULM and complete their education.
ULM Head Tennis Coach Natalia Petrova, who has led the program for the last seven years, said she was blindsided by the decision.
“We weren’t given the chance to present solutions or raise external funding. We were just told it was over,” Petrova said. “This was more than a sport — it was a sisterhood.”
Title IX Concerns
The termination of the women’s tennis program also raises potential concerns about Title IX compliance — a federal law that mandates gender equity in educational programs and activities, including athletics. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights closely monitors such cuts to ensure that schools are not disproportionately affecting female athletes.
ULM officials insisted during the press conference that they conducted a thorough review of Title IX implications before finalizing the decision.
“We have taken steps to maintain equity in our athletic offerings and continue to support the opportunities and development of female student-athletes across other programs,” Hartwell said, without elaborating on specific measures.
Alumni and Community Pushback
Within hours of the announcement, alumni and community members launched a petition on Change.org titled “Save ULM Women’s Tennis,” which had gathered over 4,000 signatures by Wednesday morning.
Former ULM tennis standout and 2012 graduate Rebecca Linhart, now a tennis coach in Texas, condemned the decision.
“ULM was my home, and tennis was the reason I got a college education. This decision sends the wrong message — that women’s sports are expendable when times get tough.”
Linhart and other former athletes are calling for transparency in ULM’s athletic spending and exploring the possibility of fundraising efforts to revive the program.
A Broader Trend
ULM is far from alone in making this type of difficult decision. Across the country, several mid-tier Division I universities have trimmed athletic programs in recent years, citing the strain of rising operational costs, reduced enrollment, and shifting priorities. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this trend, leading to widespread belt-tightening and the reevaluation of non-revenue sports.
Yet critics argue that cutting programs like women’s tennis — which traditionally cost far less than revenue-generating sports like football or basketball — represents short-term thinking.
“Sports like women’s tennis foster international diversity, academic achievement, and community engagement,” said Dr. Lisa Montgomery, a higher education analyst. “When universities eliminate these programs, they lose more than just athletes — they lose identity, connection, and opportunity.”
What’s Next?
For the affected players, coaches, and supporters of ULM women’s tennis, the next few months will be filled with uncertainty. The athletic department has promised to honor the scholarships of current athletes through their graduation, but no details have been given about support for transfers or continued training.
The tennis courts, once a hub of early morning drills and weekend match excitement, now sit in silence.
As the ULM Warhawks press on with their remaining sports programs, a painful question lingers among students and alumni: if women’s tennis can be so abruptly erased, what could be next?
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