Texas Woman's University to build new athletics center

Texas Woman's University broke ground on a new sports facility on Oct. 23. The project, called the Chaney Athletics Complex, will cost $30 million and rise on land next to the Pioneer Soccer Park.

The building will cover about 35,000 square feet. Inside, the university plans a practice gym, locker rooms, a weight room, and a sports medicine clinic. It will also house batting cages, coaches' offices, and meeting spaces. Work on the site begins in spring 2027 and finishes by the end of 2028.

Dawn S. Chaney, a TWU alumna, started the funding effort with a $10 million gift earlier this year. She holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in kinesiology from the university. She was also a three-sport student-athlete there. Donations have now reached $20.5 million. That amount represents more than two-thirds of the total funding goal.

Chancellor Carine Feyton said the money is vital because the university lacks a dedicated student-supported athletics fee. State tax dollars cannot pay for athletics programs or scholarships. Sandee Mott, the executive director of athletics, added that the new space will help support current student-athletes. She said it will also give coaches better resources and help attract new recruits.

The need for more space has grown as the university expands. Over the last six years, TWU increased its varsity sports from five to nine. The student-athlete population more than doubled during that period. Mott said the complex is not just about fixing today's space issues. She said it reflects where TWU Athletics is going.

Chaney said she wants to help the many students who will come after her. The university released details about the project in a news release.