Lawrence Adding Flag Football; Anna Maria Closing; Grand Canyon Joining NCFA
Lawrence University (WI) will add a varsity women's flag football program and begin competing in the 2027-28 academic year. The school plans to hire a head coach this summer and begin recruiting throughout the 2026-27 academic year. James Downer, Assistant Vice President of Athletics at Lawrence, stated:
"The addition of Women's Flag Football at Lawrence University reflects our continued commitment to innovation, access, and a holistic student-athlete experience. This emerging sport creates new pathways for women to compete at the collegiate level while strengthening our athletics profile and supporting institutional goals. We are excited about the opportunity to position Lawrence as a leader in one of the fastest-growing sports on the NCAA landscape."
Lawrence is the seventh school in the NCAA Division III Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) to add a varsity team. Aurora University (IL), Benedictine University (IL), Marian University (WI), and Rockford University (IL) will contest the inaugural NACC flag football championship on Saturday, April 25. Lakeland University (WI) will join that quartet in the 2026-27 academic year, while Lawrence and Wisconsin Lutheran College will begin competing in the 2027-28 academic year.
Lawrence is the 11th college in Wisconsin to offer a club or varsity flag football program. The Vikings will join Beloit College (NCAA Division III), Bryant & Stratton (NJCAA), Lakeland (D-III), Marian (D-III), Mount Mary University (NAIA), Ripon College (D-III), UW-Oshkosh (D-III), UW-Parkside (D-II), UW-Stout (D-III Club), and Wisconsin Lutheran.
Anna Maria College Will Close
Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, will close at the end of the 2026 spring semester due to financial issues. The school was set to launch a varsity women's flag football program beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The college also hired Bridget D'Amelio as head coach in December 2025 to guide the team in the first season.
Anna Maria was the only school from the NCAA Division III Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to have a club or varsity program. It's the second flag football program that intended to launch in spring 2027, but won't take the field. The NAIA's Lourdes University (OH) is also closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to financial issues.
Grand Canyon to Join NCFA
Grand Canyon University's (AZ) women's flag football club team will compete in the National Club Football Association (NCFA) during the 2026-27 academic year. Syracuse University (NY) and the University of Oklahoma will also compete in the NCFA next year, and additional club teams are expected to join this trio.
Grand Canyon recently competed at the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, which was held from Friday, April 17, through Sunday, April 19, in Tempe, Arizona. The Lopes were one of eight teams in the field, which included seven NCAA Division I club teams. UCF defeated Florida 19-7 in the championship game to win the event's first crown.
The NCFA is joining a growing list of events for collegiate flag football club teams. The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), National Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL), National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), and Women's Collegiate Flag Football League (WCFFL) also offer opportunities for club teams. NIRSA is currently revamping its structure to include a dedicated women's flag football league in the 2026-27 academic year. The organization is expected to provide additional details on the new structure in the coming weeks.