The school's sports teams are called the Ephmen, or the Ephs (pronounced "Eef", or "
if" in IPA) - a shortening
of the first name of founder Ephraim Williams. They participate in the NCAA's Division III
and the New
England Small College Athletic Conference. Williams has had tremendous success winning the NACDA Director's Cup, also known as the
Sears Cup.Williams is one of the "Little Three", along with Wesleyan and Amherst.Williams has a traditional rivalry with Amherst College's Lord
Jeffs. Williams and Amherst currently compete in 26 varsity sports and Williams sports a winning record vs. Amherst in 23.
Amherst leads only in baseball and men's soccer while the two schools' women's soccer
teams were tied, as of 11/6/2003.Williams has played in the last two men's basketball Division III national championship games, winning the title in March
2003.