A new chapter for women's flag football
Winthrop University in South Carolina announced that it will add a women's flag football club team for the 2026-27 academic year, appointing Reggie Cespedes as the program's inaugural head coach. The move marks the ninth instance of a South Carolina institution embracing the rapidly growing sport at the collegiate level.
The Big South Conference has committed to sponsoring women's flag football starting in the 2027-28 academic year. In that inaugural season, five member institutions will field either club or varsity programs, with USC Upstate opting for a varsity team and the remaining schools operating at the club level.
Sacramento State will enter the 2026-27 season competing in NIRSA's Women's Flag Football Club League, a league that has seen explosive growth since its partnership with the NFL was announced in May. The Hornets, already the 47th member of the league, aim to transition to varsity status by the 2027-28 academic year.
NIRSA's expansion has been swift; by mid‑May, three dozen schools had signed on, and the organization projects more than 50 participants before the fall semester of 2026. The league's championship game is slated for April 2027, with schedules and additional details to be released later.
Looking ahead to varsity status
Several programs, including Charleston Southern University and institutions in North Carolina and Virginia, have signaled intentions to elevate their club teams to varsity status by the 2027-28 year. Gardner‑Webb University has already announced a varsity women's flag football team, though a concrete timeline has yet to be provided.
Winthrop's entry adds to a broader trend that is reshaping collegiate athletics, as schools across Pennsylvania, California and other states consider similar offerings. Prospective participants interested in joining NIRSA's league can contact league coordinator Nik Sandona via email for further information.