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Jess Peluso was part of CU’s first Big-12 lacrosse team.

On July 27, 2023,��Colorado announced it would leave the Pac-12 Conference and return to the Big 12 Conference. The benefits were significant: increased national exposure, renewed conference rivalries and stability in the turbulent world of college athletics.��

But the Big 12 did not have women’s lacrosse as a conference-sponsored sport. If that didn’t change, Colorado would play 2024–25 as an affiliate to another conference.

“It was unknown if the Big 12 would take on sponsoring another sport,” said head coach Ann Elliott Whidden. “The administrations for Colorado, Arizona State and Cincinnati were all strong supporters of lacrosse being added and advocated for us through the process.”��

The Big 12 revealed on Nov. 9, 2023, that it would add women’s lacrosse in 2024–25 and CU was joined by ASU, Cincinnati and three affiliates — Florida, UC Davis and San Diego State.��

The Buffs went 13-6 in 2024, their final Pac-12 season.��

When Colorado released its 2025 schedule, it declared Prentup Field would host the inaugural Big 12 Championship, a four-team tournament for an automatic bid to the NCAAs.��

“When we moved to the Big 12, everything changed,” said Jess Peluso (Engl’26). “We helped set the tone for this conference. The change pushed me to grow as a player and teammate.”��

Colorado’s 2025 season (8-8, 4-1 Big 12) included wins over No. 25 Army and No. 18 Stony Brook and a two-seed in the Big 12 Championship.��Madeline Pisani (Comm’24; MSOL’25) pictured above, was named Big 12 Attack Player of the Year, and Peluso earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.��

Despite an 18-12 semifinal loss to ASU on May 1 at Prentup Field, the historic season was remarkable.��

“It was very special to be a part of the inaugural season, seeing it all unfold right in front of us,” said Pisani.��

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Photos courtesy CU Athletics��