Bradley and Menlo Adding Women's Flag Football Teams
Bradley University (IL) will add a women's flag football club team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The new club is one of five women's teams that will be offered in the coming years, alongside hockey, soccer, STUNT, and wrestling. Bradley President James Shadid said:
"Bradley is committed to providing a Premier Student Experience, one that challenges, supports and inspires our students both inside and outside the classroom. The expansion of Premier Club Sports for women reflects our belief that athletics are a powerful vehicle for leadership, teamwork, resilience and community. These new programs create additional pathways for students to compete at a high level while strengthening school spirit and campus engagement.
At Bradley, we are attentive to where opportunity is growing. Women’s flag football represents a movement that is reshaping the landscape of women’s athletics. We are proud to be part of that momentum.”
Bradley is the second school from the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference to offer a flag football team. Valparaiso University (IN) announced its flag football club team in August 2025, which will begin competing in the 2026-27 academic year. Bradley is the first NCAA D-I school in Illinois to add a club or varsity program. The Braves are now one of 16 schools in the state expected to compete next season.
Club teams remain the more prevalent option for schools in NCAA Division I, with more than 60 expected to compete during the 2026-27 academic year. However, varsity teams are being added at a higher rate following the NCAA's decision to add flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program. 14 NCAA D-I schools have announced the addition of varsity flag football.
Menlo Adds Varsity Flag Football
Menlo College (CA) will add a varsity women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Menlo becomes the first school from the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference to add a club or varsity program. Vice President for Athletics Keith Spataro stated:
"This is a strategic and mission-aligned step for Menlo College. Women's flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, especially in California and Hawaii, two of our strongest recruiting regions. The timing is right, the regional interest is strong, and the opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up is incredibly exciting.
Women's flag football expands competitive opportunities for women while strengthening our overall Athletics portfolio. We believe this sport will attract driven, high-character student-athletes who want to compete at a high level while pursuing academic excellence. We are committed to building a program that reflects Menlo's values from day one."
"Women's flag football represents both innovation and opportunity," added Menlo College President Steven Weiner. "As an institution committed to growth, access, and student engagement, we are proud to expand our athletic offerings in a way that responds to emerging national trends while serving the interests of our students. This addition strengthens our commitment to providing meaningful leadership and competitive opportunities for women."
Flag football is booming at the high school level in California, and Menlo is now the first NCAA Division II school in the state to add either a club or varsity program. 14 other NCAA D-II schools are adding varsity programs in the 2026-27 academic year, but all of them are located east of the Mississippi River. As of this posting, at least 35 NCAA D-II varsity programs are slated to compete next season, with another 20 schools having club teams.
When factoring in future teams, California is in a dead heat with New York and Pennsylvania for most programs. All three states have 34 club or varsity programs, while the next closest is Florida with 27. Expect those numbers to change as flag football continues to gain popularity among colleges across the US.