SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University officials have announced a commitment to add women's flag football as a varsity sport with competitive play scheduled to begin during the 2027-28 academic year. It will be supported by a fundraising campaign set to launch in early 2026. 
 
The growing popularity of women's flag football at area high schools and the sport making its Olympic debut at the 2028 games is further bolstered by an upcoming NCAA vote to identify it as an emerging sport, placing SRU at the forefront of providing opportunities for regional student-athletes.
 
"Athletics is a vital component of our residential campus experience, and adding women's flag football is tremendously exciting," said SRU President Karen Riley. "This emerging sport represents growth, inclusion, and opportunity, and we look forward to building a tradition of excellence that empowers additional female student-athletes to join our many highly successful athletic programs. We are deeply grateful to the SRU community for their vision, advocacy, and support in making this possible."
 
Slippery Rock expects to launch a national search for a head coach during the 2026 spring semester to allow an academic year for recruiting student-athletes before the program begins competitive play in 2027-28.
 
"Slippery Rock University is proud to expand opportunities for female student-athletes through the addition of women's flag football as a varsity sport," said Roberta Page, director of athletics. "This is more than just adding a team, it's about empowering women to compete, lead, and excel on a national stage. With the support of our alumni, fans, and friends, we will provide the resources that ensure our student-athletes thrive and help shape the future of this exciting and fast-growing sport."

Details for the fundraising campaign will be announced in the spring. 
 
ABOUT SRU
Slippery Rock University is a thriving NCAA Division II institution located in western Pennsylvania that currently sponsors 17 varsity athletics teams. The Rock's student-athletes excel on and off the field with SRU leading all athletics departments in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in academic performance in 2024-25 with student-athletes combining for a 3.489 GPA. The Rock rank sixth all-time among all Division II schools in the total number of Academic All-Americans and were tied with Duke University for eighth among all NCAA schools from all levels in 2024-25 with 14 Academic All-America honorees.

ABOUT WOMEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL
Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. At least 65 NCAA schools are sponsoring women's flag football at either the club or varsity levels this year, with more slated to join in 2026. Flag football also has been added as a sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics recommended that Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.



To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official Athletic Communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).