The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has hopped on the women’s flag football bandwagon and elevated the sport to championship status for the 2026-27 school year, marking the 30th championship sport for the organization.
According to WJHL, the NAIA is now the first collegiate athletics association to officially sanction women’s flag football as a championship sport. It is ahead of the NCAA on this one. So far, the NCAA approved flag football as an emerging sport for women and it has received a formal recommendation to become a championship sport beginning in 2028.
Related: Flag Football Receives Formal Recommendation to Become an NCAA Championship Sport
The NAIA estimates that 60 schools from at least eight conferences will participate in the upcoming women’s flag football season, including Cumberland University, University of Saint Mary, Siena Heights University and Webber International University.
For the past several years, NAIA member institutions have supported women’s flag football as an invitational or club sport. In the 2025-26 school year, 35 teams competed in NAIA women’s flag football.
"Making women's flag football an NAIA championship sport is a major milestone," said NAIA president and 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."
Details on qualification, the competition schedule, and date and location of the championship are forthcoming from the NAIA.
"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."
