College · May 7–9, 2026
College women's flag football 2026: NAIA and NCAA
In 2025–26 women's flag football was an NAIA invitational sport. Warner (Fla.) beat Keiser (Fla.) 13–6 in the final to finish a perfect 24–0 season, ending Ottawa (Kan.)'s five-year run of titles. Then the NAIA made it an official championship sport, and the NCAA added it to its Emerging Sports for Women program.
- NAIA champion
- Warner (24–0)
- NAIA sport no.
- 30th
- First NAIA title
- Spring 2027
- NCAA
- Emerging sport
Results
NAIA Invitational final 2026Warner 13–6 Keiser
NAIA final 2025Ottawa (Kan.) 34–20 Keiser
What stood out
- Keiser led 6–0 at halftime; Warner's Jessica Finley intercepted Keiser quarterback Ava Wallace with 11 seconds left.
- NAIA Player of the Year: Ashlea Klam (Keiser), with 21 touchdown catches and 12 interceptions. Coach of the Year: Liz Sowers (Ottawa), 105–11 over six seasons.
- June 17, 2026: the NAIA approved women's flag football as its 30th championship sport. The first national championship is set for spring 2027, and about 60 schools are expected to sponsor it in 2026–27.
- January 16, 2026: all three NCAA divisions added women's flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program, effective immediately. A sport needs 40 varsity programs to reach championship status.
- In May 2026 an NCAA committee reportedly recommended a national championship as soon as spring 2028; each division still has to vote (reported by the Washington Times and On3).
Why it matters
High school girls now have a college path in flag football, with scholarships and national titles. That pipeline is what feeds national teams and, soon, the Olympics.
All results · Flag football at LA28 · The rules they play by