VCSU and North Dakota Institutions Announce Collaborative Expansion of Women’s Flag Football
4 Universities Adding Women’s Flag Football Programs
NORTH DAKOTA — Valley City State University is one of four North Dakota institutions working together to expand opportunities for women student-athletes through the development of women’s flag football programs and a new regional competitive partnership.
Valley City State University (VCSU), Bismarck State College (BSC), Dickinson State University (DSU), and Mayville State University (MSU), all members of the Frontier Conference, are collaborating to establish a strong foundation for collegiate women’s flag football in North Dakota.
Mayville State will begin varsity competition during the 2026–27 academic year. BSC, DSU, and VCSU plan to introduce women’s flag football through intramural competition beginning in spring 2027, giving students an opportunity to participate while the institutions prepare for varsity competition during the 2027–28 academic year.
Beginning in 2027–28, the four North Dakota institutions plan to compete against one another while also competing against institutions in neighboring states. This collaboration creates an initial regional schedule while establishing a platform for the sport to grow throughout the Frontier Conference.
Women’s Flag Football Growing Nationwide
Women’s flag football is growing significantly nationally. The NAIA has approved women’s flag football as its 30th championship sport beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, with the inaugural NAIA Women’s Flag Football National Championship scheduled for spring 2027. The NAIA has been a national leader in developing collegiate women’s flag football through its longstanding partnership with the National Football League (NFL).
As the North Dakota institutions develop their programs, they also plan to explore opportunities to partner with an NFL organization to support the launch and growth of women’s flag football in the state. A potential partnership could provide additional visibility, resources, programming and opportunities to introduce the sport to young women throughout North Dakota.
This regional momentum aligns with the Conference’s commitment to student-athlete expansion.
Frontier Conference Commissioner indicates the collaboration represents an important opportunity for the conference and its student-athletes.
“The growth of women’s flag football represents an exciting opportunity for our student-athletes and our institutions,” said Frontier Conference Commissioner Scott Crawford. “I commend these four institutions for their collaborative work in building a strong foundation for the sport in North Dakota. Starting with these four programs gives us an opportunity to establish meaningful competition in our region, and we are hopeful that additional Frontier Conference institutions will join them as the sport continues to grow.”
The four institutions hope their collaboration will serve as a foundation for the continued expansion of women’s flag football within the Frontier Conference. Since the NAIA requires a minimum of six varsity programs for a conference to receive an automatic berth into the national postseason tournament, growing the sport beyond the initial four programs is a key priority. Additional conference programs in Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota would strengthen both conference and regional competition, ultimately providing a direct pathway to national championship opportunities.
The initiative also comes at an important time for the sport nationally. Women’s flag football continues to expand at the high school and collegiate levels and will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Looking Ahead
For the participating institutions, the spring 2027 intramural season will provide an opportunity to generate student interest, introduce the sport on each campus and begin building momentum toward varsity competition. Mayville State’s varsity program will provide an important early foundation as the four institutions work collaboratively on scheduling, program development and regional competition.
The institutions view the initiative as more than adding another athletic program. Women’s flag football provides another opportunity to recruit and retain students, strengthen campus engagement and create a new pathway for women to continue competing while earning a college degree.
“This collaboration is about creating opportunities for young women across North Dakota,” the participating institutions said in a joint statement. “By working together, we can build these programs thoughtfully, establish meaningful competition and provide another pathway for students to pursue both their academic and athletic goals. We are excited about the opportunity to grow women’s flag football in North Dakota and help build its future throughout the Frontier Conference.”
Additional information about the spring 2027 intramural programs, varsity competition, coaching, recruiting, scheduling, and potential partnerships will be announced as institutions finalize plans.
VCSU’s new Tharaldson Family Athletic Center, which includes 80 yards of indoor turf, will be an important asset for Women’s Flag Football, allowing the program to practice throughout the unpredictable spring weather in North Dakota.