Written By: Carly Smith
The University of Northwestern has officially partnered with five NCAA institutions and the Minnesota Vikings and launched an exciting collegiate women’s flag football league. This league not only brings greater visibility to women’s sports but also offers an accessible way for female athletes to participate in a popular, well-established sport.
The league features teams from Augustana University, Concordia College Moorhead, Gustavus Adolphus College, Bethel University, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Bethel University, Augsburg University, and the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in promoting women’s flag football at the collegiate level and provides opportunities for college students to get involved in something new and exciting.
What makes this partnership even more thrilling is the strong support from the Minnesota Vikings, who are helping to propel the growth of women’s sports. The Vikings contributed a generous $140,000 to support the new league and participating schools, demonstrating their commitment to empowering women in athletics.
The competition officially kicked off this past Saturday (April 5, 2025) with a jamboree hosted at the University of Northwestern. UNW started off the season strong and played three games on their home field.
Halle Brown (Business ’26), a participant on the UNW flag football team stated “I joined the flag football team because I wanted to try something new, and I absolutely love it! After only 3 weeks of practice and a jamboree, I really feel like us girls are a team. Our coaches are so kind and encouraging while pushing us to do our best! Joining this team has been the most fun I’ve had in a while!” Halle is one of the many players on UNW’s team who is excited about this new opportunity for female college students.
This partnership between academic institutions and the Vikings is poised to make a lasting impact on women’s flag football, paving the way for future athletes to shine. The league finish the season in an exciting championship tournament at TCO Stadium in Eagan on Saturday, April 26, where the top teams will compete for the inaugural title.
These are the dates for the next women’s flag football jamboree this spring. Make sure you go and support this awesome opportunity for female athletes!
- Saturday, April 12 – at the University of Wisconsin-Stout
- Saturday, April 26 – Championship tournament at TCO Stadium
The Minnesota Vikings have been committed to advancing girls’ and women’s flag football by creating more opportunities for athletes of all levels, while also supporting the pathway to collegiate play since 2022. The organization has invested over $600,000 into regional and statewide girls’ flag football programs, helping to eliminate financial barriers for participants. Flag football is the fastest-growing high school sport in the U.S., and by February 2025, 14 states will have officially sanctioned girls’ flag football at the high school level.
