SUNY Brockport becomes one of the first universities to offer women’s flag football as a varsity sport

Men won’t be the only student-athletes scoring touchdowns in Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium next season. SUNY Brockport announced that women’s flag football will become the University’s 24th varsity sport, paving the way for women to get in the game.

“Becoming a varsity sport was our vision from the beginning,” said Cymbri Jefferson, a club leader of the University’s women’s club flag football team that began play this season. “Building this program, providing more opportunities for women, and giving women a sense of community within all of it – it feels great.”

Jefferson and classmate Katrin Althouse led the charge to get the club team up and running and found significant interest from the campus community.

“We started something from scratch,” Althouse said. “At our first event in the fall more than 100 students, even some faculty, showed interest. Some wanted to join the team and others signed up for coaching positions.”

The 42 active members of the team meet regularly, participating in late-night field practices, early morning conditioning sessions, and reviewing film of other teams to analyze their plays. While their hope was for the club team to eventually become a varsity team, it happened much quicker than they had ever imagined.

“I’m so pleased that SUNY Brockport is on the forefront of opening the game to women,” added SUNY Brockport President Dr. Heidi Macpherson. “I can’t wait to watch our Golden Eagles compete in women’s flag football at the varsity level next season.”

Beginning next season the team will compete in the Empire 8 Conference alongside SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick College, Elmira College, and Russell Sage College. This move was made possible through a partnership with the NFL and RCX Sports.

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide female student-athletes with a chance to compete at a high level while growing a sport that continues to gain momentum nationwide,” said Dr. Erick Hart, Director of Athletics. “We look forward to building a championship-caliber program that will make an immediate impact.”

Women’s flag football is gaining traction across the country. Over 65 NCAA institutions are currently offering women’s flag football, either at the club or varsity level, with additional schools expected to participate by 2026. Additionally, flag football has been included as a sport in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

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