SUNY-Old Westbury to add women's flag football in 2025-26

SUNY-Old Westbury announced on Tuesday that it will add women's flag football as an intercollegiate sport beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

Old Westbury will be among six other schools to compete in the sport in the Skyline Conference.

"With the dramatic increase in popularity of flag football across Long Island, and the nation, I am excited to announce Women's Flag Football as our newest athletic offering,” SUNY-Old Westbury president Timothy E. Sams said in the news release. "We already know through our other intercollegiate athletic programs the value of teamwork and the leadership skills that are crafted through competition. With this addition, we will be at the forefront of expanding another opportunity for women to succeed in and through sports.”

Old Westbury said in the news release that the women's flag football program will compete at the club level in the spring of 2026 before transitioning to varsity status in the spring of 2027. The college said the search for a coach will begin in May with an announcement expected during the summer.

"Our athletic department is committed to providing valuable, exciting opportunities for our student-athletes," SUNY Old Westbury director of athletics Lenore Walsh said in a statement. "Our University’s mission seeks to promote greater accessibility and inclusivity, and that is true in athletics as much as academics. We’re eager to offer more opportunities for young women to compete at the collegiate level through the addition of women’s flag football.”

The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics made a recommendation in February that Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. Emerging Sports for Women are recognized by the NCAA but do not have sanctioned championships. The NCAA said at least 65 schools already are sponsoring women's flag football at either the club or varsity level this year, with more expected to join in 2026.