IRVING, Texas – American Athletic Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti has announced the addition of three affiliate member institutions to the conference in women’s swimming and diving effective July 1, 2025.
 
James Madison University, Liberty University and Marshall University will bring The American’s membership in women’s swimming and diving to nine, joining full members East Carolina University, Florida Atlantic University, University of North Texas, Rice University and Tulane University as well as affiliate member Florida International University.
 
JMU captured the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Swim and Dive Championship, the 2022 Eastern College Athletic Conference title in 2022 and won four consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles from 2018-21. Marshall finished second to the Dukes at the 2024 Sun Belt meet. Liberty has won six consecutive conference championships, with the first five being part of the Coastal Collegiate Sports Associate and adding the Atlantic Sun Conference title in 2024.
 
“We are excited to welcome JMU, Liberty and Marshall to The American in women’s swimming and diving,” Pernetti said. “All three programs are at the top of the sport and will enhance our strength in women’s swimming and diving and our philosophy of providing the highest level of competition and experience for our student-athletes. This expansion will better position The American for even more participation in the NCAA Championships.”
  The American sponsors women’s swimming and diving as a championship-only sport, meaning that the conference does not administer a regular-season schedule. With the addition of the affiliate members, nine teams will compete for The American title at the 2026 Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, which have been awarded to the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
The Greensboro Aquatic Center, which previously hosted The American Championships in 2015, hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in 2015 and both of the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in 2021.
 
"The Greensboro Aquatic Center is proud to be selected as the site of the 2026 American Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships," said Greensboro Aquatic Center manager David Hoover. "We look forward to hosting this prestigious event for the first time since 2015 and welcoming the nine American member institutions to Greensboro and our state-of-the art facility."