KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has approved women’s flag football as the NAIA’s 30th championship sport, elevating the sport from invitational to championship status beginning with the 2026-27 academic year and culminating in the inaugural NAIA Women’s Flag Football National Championship in spring 2027.
The move marks a significant milestone in the continued growth of one of the fastest-expanding sports in the country. In partnership with the NFL, the NAIA became the first collegiate athletics association to recognize women’s flag football on a national level. What began as an emerging sport in 2021 grew to invitational status in 2026 and now championship status in 2027.
The NAC’s approval on Wednesday officially establishes women’s flag football as the association’s newest championship sport and further reinforces the NAIA’s longstanding commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes.
“Making women’s flag football an NAIA championship sport is a major milestone,” said NAIA President & CEO Jim Carr. “It expands opportunity, elevates the game, and reflects the momentum behind one of the fastest-growing women’s sports in the country.”
The association has worked alongside member institutions, conferences, and national partners to establish the infrastructure necessary for long-term success and sustainability. A total of 60 NAIA institutions are expected to sponsor women’s flag football during the 2026-27 academic year, demonstrating the sport’s continued growth and broad-based support across the association.
“The growth of women’s flag football over the last five years has been remarkable,” said Austin Bennett, NAIA Vice President for Championships. “The NAIA has been proud to serve as a pioneer in the sport’s collegiate development since launching it in 2021. What began as an opportunity to create new pathways for student-athletes has quickly evolved into a thriving national sport with strong institutional support, growing competitive depth, and tremendous momentum.”
The inaugural NAIA Women’s Flag Football National Championship is scheduled to be contested during the spring of 2027. Additional details regarding championship qualification, format, and site information will be announced at a later date.
For more information about NAIA Women’s Flag Football, visit www.naia.org/flagfootball.
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