The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced the addition of Mississippi Valley State University and Gardner-Webb University as associate members for women's flag football, raising the league's participation to six teams and underscoring a historic milestone for women's athletics.
A historic step for women's sports
Both institutions will join the conference's existing full members — Delaware State, Maryland Eastern Shore, Norfolk State and North Carolina Central — beginning competition in the 2026-27 academic year.
The expansion comes as women's flag football is classified as an NCAA Emerging Sport, a designation that paves the way for a championship by spring 2028 and a debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said the move reflects the conference's commitment to growing championship opportunities for female athletes.
Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson, director of athletics at Mississippi Valley State, highlighted the university's historic role in advancing the sport and its alignment with the Olympic timeline.
Brendan Fahey, vice president for athletics at Gardner-Webb, celebrated the chance for student-athletes to compete at a high level in the sport's inaugural season.
The MEAC, celebrating its 56th year, comprises eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities along the Atlantic seaboard, underscoring its focus on academic excellence and athlete development.