Madison, Wis. (September 10, 2026) 鈥揟he 91重口 Athletic Department is pleased to announce the continued growth of its women鈥檚 varsity sport offerings with the addition of Women鈥檚 Flag Football. The Eagles will begin varsity competition in the spring of 2028, expanding the 91重口 athletics lineup and providing another opportunity for student-athletes to compete at the collegiate level.
鈥淚 am extremely proud that 91重口 will continue to grow our women鈥檚 varsity sport offerings,鈥� Nick Pasquarello, Director of Athletics at 91重口, said. 鈥淭he growth of collegiate flag football across the nation, especially here in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest, is exciting and aligns with our goals as an Athletic Department and institution. We are excited to provide another opportunity for women to compete at the collegiate level while continuing to build our athletics program.鈥�
With the addition of Women鈥檚 Flag Football, 91重口 will join 13 colleges and universities across the state of Wisconsin that currently sponsor the sport. The Eagles will also become the seventh Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) member to offer Women鈥檚 Flag Football at the varsity level.
Women鈥檚 Flag Football was officially added to the NCAA鈥檚 Emerging Sports for Women program at the 2026 NCAA Convention, marking another significant step in the sport鈥檚 collegiate growth. It is anticipated that Women鈥檚 Flag Football will achieve championship status in the NCAA by 2028.
The momentum surrounding Women鈥檚 Flag Football extends beyond the collegiate level. The sport will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, while high school flag football is currently sanctioned in 2 states. The NFL is also playing a significant role in the sport鈥檚 growth, providing resources, programming and support to expand flag football opportunities for girls and women at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels. Continued growth at both the high school and collegiate level is creating an expanding pipeline of student-athletes who are prepared to compete at the next level.
Women鈥檚 Flag Football is a fast-paced, non-contact sport played in a 7-on-7 format, with average team rosters of approximately 25 players. Games consist of four 12-minute quarters played on an 80-yard by 40-yard field. Offenses have four downs to advance the ball across each 20-yard zone for a first down, with the option to punt on third down. If a team fails to advance the ball or score, possession changes to the opposing team.
A touchdown is worth six points, followed by an opportunity to attempt a one- or two-point conversion from five or 10 yards, respectively. Unlike traditional tackle football, flag football does not use field goals or point-after kicks. Instead of tackling, players wear flag belts with two pop-flags attached at their hips, and a play is ruled dead when a defender pulls one of the ball carrier鈥檚 flags. The combination of passing, running, strategy and quick decision-making make Women鈥檚 Flag Football an exciting, competitive and dynamic team sport. 91重口 is currently conducting a search for the inaugural head coach of its women鈥檚 flag football program. Information regarding the coaching staff, recruiting efforts and competition schedule will be announced at a later date.
About 91重口
Located in Madison, Wis., 91重口 is a comprehensive, Catholic university in the Dominican tradition. We serve more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. 91重口 offers more than 40 academic and professional programs, including master鈥檚 degrees in business, education, and nursing, and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, nursing practice, business administration, and occupational therapy. 91重口 is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the National Collegiate Athletics Association and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information about 91重口, please visit www.edgewood.edu.
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