APPLETON, Wis. (April 23, 2026) – Lawrence University will launch Women’s Flag Football for the 2027-28 academic year, making it the 12th women’s varsity sport offered at Wisconsin’s #1 small private college.
Flag Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which added it to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in January. Flag Football also makes its official debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, fielding both men’s and women’s teams.
“We believe deeply in expanding access to meaningful opportunities that support the whole student experience,” said Lawrence University President Laurie A. Carter. “As an emerging sport, Women’s Flag Football allows us to respond thoughtfully to the evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics while creating new opportunities for women student‑athletes to compete, lead, and thrive. This program will enrich our campus community and strengthen Lawrence’s commitment to opportunity, leadership, and student success.”
A national search for a head coach to lead the newest Vikings team will begin immediately with the intent to have the new coach in place by this fall to lead recruitment and planning for the inaugural season in the 2027-28 academic year. Competition will begin in Spring 2028.
“The addition of Women’s Flag Football at Lawrence University reflects our continued commitment to innovation, access, and a holistic student-athlete experience,” said James Downer, Assistant Vice President of Athletics. “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.”
Alice A. Gorinshteyn, a sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Russian Studies, was instrumental in establishing Flag Football as an intramural sport at Lawrence and looks forward to its introduction as the newest Vikings sports program.
“Flag football becoming a varsity sport at Lawrence fills me with excitement thinking about others getting to experience the energy that comes with it, empowering women to feel strong, confident, and unstoppable,” she said.
Reflecting on her participation in sports growing up, Gorinshteyn said football did not feel like an option for her as a woman athlete.
“It is so important to make football something that anyone can enjoy and be a part of,” she said. “Flag football, to me, is more than a sport; it is a community. Adding Flag Football to Lawrence is not just adding another sport; it is creating another family on campus. It will bring a type of energy on campus that is indescribable.”
Inaya Rivera Rodriguez, a sophomore majoring in Government and Philosophy and a member of Lawrence’s intramural Flag Football Club, looks forward to more women getting to experience the sense of empowerment and strength she has felt playing the sport.
“For me, flag football has always meant more than just a game,” Rodriguez said. “Back in high school, I was the only girl on my team, and stepping on to that field taught me what it means to be fearless. It showed me that strength does not have to fit one image, and that passion can create space where there once was none. Bringing Flag Football to Lawrence means creating that same opportunity for other women. It means giving students a place to challenge themselves, build confidence, and find community through a sport that has the power to make people feel seen. Adding the sport is not just about starting a new team, it is about creating a legacy that shows future generations they belong here too.”
The new Flag Football team will utilize existing facilities and infrastructure already in place by Men’s Football and other outdoor sports, making it a cost-effective addition to the varsity sports offered at Lawrence. It also will help attract a new population of students to campus that can meaningfully impact overall enrollment and retention.
The addition of a sport that is rapidly growing in both popularly and interest, demonstrates Lawrence’s responsiveness to emerging trends in intercollegiate athletics while underscoring its commitment to the Division III philosophy of broad-based participation and student experience.
“Lawrence plays a vital role in the growth and vitality of the Fox Valley, and this program is a wonderful example of that impact,” said Lawrence Board of Trustees member Kathi Seifert, whose financial gift to Lawrence Athletics made it possible to introduce the new program within months of the NCAA’s adoption of Flag Football as an emerging sport for women. “Supporting Women’s Flag Football at Lawrence is about more than adding a sport; it is about creating an environment that builds self‑confidence, teamwork, and resilience, and affirms that women belong in every arena. I’m grateful to play a small role in helping the university expand access for women student‑athletes and build an even stronger future.”
With the addition of Flag Football, Lawrence University now offers 12 varsity sports for women: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball. The University offers 11 varsity sports for men: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacross, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, and Track & Field.
