The Beacons compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference in all sports except football, bowling, and men's swimming.

[3][4] The men's teams in swimming and tennis moved to the Summit League when Valparaiso joined the MVC.

Formerly named the Crusaders, the university dropped that name and associated mascot and logos in 2021, because of the "negative connotation and violence associated with the Crusader imagery", specifically its appropriation by hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.

The basketball, swimming, and volleyball teams play at the adjacent Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC), which has a capacity of 5,000.

The original illustrated mascot was penned by a Disney artist and trademarked in 1951, and used until 2010, when the school rebranded itself athletically and academically.

"The task force determined the Crusader is not reflective of Valpo’s mission to promote a welcoming and inclusive community."

[14] A member of the Missouri Valley Conference, Valparaiso sponsors teams in ten men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

The Valparaiso football program was started in 1919, as prior to this point the administration believed athletics were a distraction from academic pursuits.

The Valparaiso baseball team advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2012, where they lost to play Purdue and Kentucky in the Gary Regional.

Valparaiso is currently coached by Roger Powell Jr. and play their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center.

In 1990–91, Valparaiso reached the finals of the North Star Conference Tournament before losing to DePaul.

Debbie Bolen (1989–1993) and hall of fall class of 1999, is the current holder of 18 single game records, season and career women's basketball individual records including points scored, scoring average, most field goals, most free throws, assists, and steals.

The Valparaiso softball team repeated as Horizon League champions and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2013, where they lost to Michigan in the first round of the Ann Arbor Regional.

Valpo captured its third Horizon League title in a five-year span and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2016.

The win clinched Valpo's first NCAA tournament berth in program history where they fell to Northwestern 4–1 in the first round, recording the first point a Horizon League school had won in the NCAA tournament in 22 years.

November 20, 2019, Valpo announced the discontinuation of the Men's tennis and soccer programs at the conclusion of the 2019–2020 seasons.

In addition, sophomore Laura Rolf was named an All-American in the mile run, finishing tenth at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship.

[23] On October 11, 2014, the Warren G. Hoger Track was officially dedicated by University President Mark Heckler, donor Jay Christopher, Warren Hoger, athletic director Mark LaBarbera, head coach Ryan Moore and athlete Alex Vasile.

The Valparaiso University Track and Field team is made of men and women competing in different events including sprints, distance, jumps and throws.