HIGH POINT, N.C. – Director of Intercollegiate Club Sports for High Point University, Dr. Stephen Denny, announced the addition of a women's flag football program, which will begin play in Fall 2026. The addition marks the 25th sport and 40th team to the intercollegiate club sports program. 

The HPU's Intercollegiate Club Sports program is one of the fastest-growing competitive offerings on campus. It currently features 24 sports, 39 teams, and engages 900 student-athletes, with long-term expansion plans still underway. These teams compete in conference, regional and national tournaments and train in state-of-the-art athletic facilities that mirror the standards and expectations of HPU's NCAA Division I programs.

The addition of the women's flag football program coincides with ever-growing development of the HPU's Intercollegiate Club Sports program, after being named as the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program during an announcement in January 2026 by the NCAA when representatives from all three divisions approved the recommendation at the 2026 NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C.

Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country at the youth, high school and collegiate levels. The sport's momentum includes being added as a sport for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Since the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program was created in 1994, eight sports have successfully become NCAA championship sports, including rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling (2003), beach volleyball (2015) and women's wrestling (2025).

According to nflflag.com, there are currently at least 65 colleges already sponsoring flag football at the club or varsity level, with more expected to join by 2026. The demand is undeniable—NFL FLAG girls' participation has jumped 50% in the last three years. 

"We are aware of several female athletes enrolled for next year that want to play flag football and come from a competitive high school experience," said Dr. Denny. "We also know there are several still considering High Point University, just waiting for this announcement. Finalizing a head coach this week with a strategic plan for establishing an excellent program, we couldn't be more excited to get this program added to the HPU athletic experience."