Whitman holds membership in the NCAA (Div. III) and the Northwest Conference. Nine varsity teams for men and nine for women. More than 70 percent of the student body participates in intramural sports; more than 20 percent participate in a varsity sport.

Whitman's official mascot, the 'Missionaries' after Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, is a source of debate with some parties wishing a change to avoid the implied cultural imperialism. Current campaigns to change the mascot support the 'Ducks', for the many ducks residing in campus creeks and ponds, a culturally neutral mascot.