Bridgewater College Launches Women’s Flag Football Varsity Sport in 2026

Bridgewater College is making waves in the athletic world by announcing the addition of women’s flag football as a varsity sport. The program will start competition in the 2026-2027 academic sports year.

This move highlights Bridgewater’s push to offer more opportunities for female student-athletes. It also fits with the sport’s growing popularity across the country.

We’re seeing a broader trend in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. More schools now recognize the value and potential of women’s flag football.

The Rising Popularity of Women’s Flag Football

Women’s flag football is growing fast nationwide. According to WomensCollegeFlagFootball.com, over 200 colleges and universities have women’s flag football teams.

That number includes club teams at 32 Division I schools like UVA, Radford, and Norfolk State. At the Division III level, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) is seeing more interest, with Hollins and Virginia Wesleyan already sponsoring teams.

Alongside Bridgewater, Guilford College plans to add women’s flag football in 2026-2027 too. It seems like the momentum just keeps building.

Bridgewater College’s Leadership in Athletics

Bridgewater College has always focused on giving students affordable, accessible opportunities. Adding women’s flag football is another step in that direction.

President David Bushman talked about the college’s drive to foster a winning culture in athletics. He pointed to the excitement in local youth leagues as a big reason for bringing the sport to Bridgewater.

Bushman said, With the sport’s tremendous growth across Virginia and the enthusiastic participation we see in local youth leagues, the time is right to bring this dynamic sport to BC. He wants the college to inspire the next generation of female student-athletes in the community and beyond.

The ODAC’s Commitment to Women’s Flag Football

The ODAC is making moves to recognize women’s flag football as a competitive sport. Several other schools in the conference are thinking about adding teams soon.

ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston said he’s excited about Bridgewater’s decision. He called it a big step for both the ODAC and Division III sports overall.

Bankston added that as more ODAC schools join in, the conference could sponsor a championship before long. The momentum really seems to be picking up at the collegiate level.

National Support and Growth

Women’s flag football isn’t just growing at colleges. The NFL has helped boost the sport at the grassroots level.

Seventeen states now have varsity high school girls’ flag football programs. The Washington Commanders, the NFL team for the region, have played a huge role in supporting the sport in the DMV area.

Dan Levy, director of youth football for the Commanders, called the rise of women’s flag football at colleges an exciting milestone. He thanked Bridgewater College for their commitment and said he looked forward to working together to create more opportunities for young women, especially in Virginia.

Bridgewater College’s Vision for the Future

Bridgewater’s athletics director, Curt Kendall, said he’s excited to give women another athletic option at the college. He believes the program can be competitive right from the start.

Kendall said, We feel this program can be competitive from the start, and we encourage female high school student-athletes in the region to become a part of our first women’s flag football team. It’s a real call to action for aspiring athletes who want to be part of something new and meaningful.

Conclusion

Bridgewater College just made a big move by adding women’s flag football as a varsity sport. That’s a pretty huge step for the school.

This change taps into a bigger wave of interest in women’s flag football, not just at Bridgewater, but across colleges and even nationally. The ODAC, the NFL, and local youth leagues all seem to have its back.