The NCAA Board of Governors on Thursday approved funding to support a National Collegiate Championship and sport committee in women’s flag football and appointed several new members to the board.
The board approved an Association-wide budget allocation for women’s flag football. The action also moves oversight of the championship budget to Division I, consistent with other National Collegiate Championships, beginning with the 2027-28 season.
“The Board of Governors is proud to support the continued growth of women’s flag football,” said Jim Phillips, chair of the board and Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner. “Establishing funding for a National Collegiate Championship is an important milestone that provides a pathway for future championship competition and reinforces our commitment to fostering additional growth opportunities for women in college sports.”
The funding approval marks another step in the continued growth of women’s flag football across the NCAA membership. In May, the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact recommended that all three divisions sponsor legislation to add a women’s flag football championship. This spring, the sport met the minimum sponsorship and participation thresholds required to move forward. Member schools are expected to vote on the proposals in January.
New Board of Governors members appointed
The board also approved several new appointments and a reappointment. Each member will serve a two-year term.
New members include:
- Independent member: Leah Brown, orthopedic surgeon at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and head team orthopedist for the San Antonio Spurs.
- HBCU representative (ex officio): Tony Allen, president of Delaware State.
- Division I graduated student-athlete: Meredith Page, former women’s volleyball student-athlete at Radford.
- Division III graduated student-athlete: Adaobi Nebuwa, former women’s basketball student-athlete at Colby.
The board also reappointed Phillips as the Division I conference commissioner representative. Earlier this week, the board appointed Darryll Pines, president of Maryland, as a Division I representative.
