On May 12, 2023 the school announced its departure from the Summit League to become a full member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in most sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1.

[3] WIU's nickname, the Leathernecks, and its mascot, the English bulldog, are taken from the traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

[4] The university holds the distinction of being the only non-military institution to officially have its nickname derived from a branch of the military service.

On December 18, 2020 Western Illinois officially discontinued their men’s and women’s swimming programs citing budgetary and COVID-19 concerns.

[7] A week later on May 18, 2023 Western Illinois announced the addition of three more sports for women, this includes beach volleyball, bowling, and STUNT.

The women's basketball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.

The men's cross country team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.

The men's golf team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.

The men's soccer team played one final Summit League season in 2023 before joining the rest of the university's sports in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2024.

The women's soccer team, like its men's counterpart, is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I Ohio Valley Conference.

The softball team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.

The team plays its home games at 500-seat Mary Ellen McKee Softball Stadium and are coached by Alisa Goler.

The team is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, which is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.