A Tradition of Excellence
Stanford holds the distinction of being the nation’s all-time leader in NCAA team championships, with an unmatched 138 NCAA titles — 71 in men’s sports, 67 in women’s sports — and 173 national championships overall (77 men’s, 93 women’s, 3 coed).
The Cardinal has won at least one NCAA team title in each of the past 49 years, a streak that dates back to the 1976–77 season.
Seasonal & Historical Breakdown
- By season: 35 fall, 33 winter, and 70 spring NCAA titles
- Since 2000: 62 NCAA team championships
- Since 2010: 41 NCAA team championships
Recent Success
In 2024–25, Stanford secured six national championships, including NCAA titles in women’s water polo and women’s rowing. The sailing program added three more national titles, and artistic swimming captured another crown.
Back in 2018–19, the Cardinal matched a school record with six NCAA titles in a single academic year, including championships in:
- Women’s Volleyball
- Women’s Swimming
- Men’s Gymnastics
- Women’s Water Polo
- Women’s Tennis
- Men’s Golf
Learfield Directors' Cup Dominance
Stanford has claimed the Learfield Directors’ Cup — awarded to the top overall athletic department in the country — 26 times in the award’s 31-year history, including a 25-year streak from 1995 to 2019.
Capital One Cup Success
The Cardinal remains the only school to sweep both the men’s and women’s Capital One Cups in the same year, accomplishing the feat in 2017–18 and again in 2020–21.
- Men’s Program: 3-time winner
- Women’s Program: 7-time champion
Individual Excellence
Stanford athletes have captured:
- 658 individual national championships, including
- 572 NCAA individual titles
In 2024–25 alone, 13 individual national champions emerged from Stanford, led by four titles in women’s swimming and diving.
Olympic Impact
Stanford affiliates have earned a remarkable 335 Olympic medals (162 gold, 93 silver, 80 bronze) from 196 medalists.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Stanford athletes brought home a school-record 39 medals — the most ever by any university in a single Games.
Stanford has produced at least one Olympic medalist in every Games the U.S. has competed in since 1912.
Academic Distinction
- 189 NCAA Postgraduate Scholars — the most of any university
- 13 Rhodes Scholars among Stanford scholar-athletes
Updated June 18, 2025