The move comes as interest in women's flag football is surging nationally, while Ohio sanctioned the sport for high schools earlier this year with the support of the Cleveland Browns.
Baldwin Wallace University has announced that women's flag football will become the University's newest varsity sport, launching competition in spring 2027.
The addition marks several firsts for the institution and the region: Baldwin Wallace will become the first varsity women's flag football program in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and the first in the Greater Cleveland/Northeast Ohio region. The sport will become BW's 29th varsity team and 15th athletics program for women.
BW will soon initiate a national search for a full-time head coach to recruit the program's inaugural roster, beginning in the new year.
Women's flag football represents a strategic athletics expansion in an area with proven student-athlete demand and comparatively low start-up and operating costs.
In July, Ohio became the 17th state to officially make Girls Flag Football a sanctioned sport under the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). The Cleveland Browns have been backing expansion of the sport in Ohio ahead of the 2028 Olympics, which will feature flag football as part of the games.
The establishment of a team at BW is a strategic investment that aligns with BW's plan to grow programs with high student interest.
BW President Lee Fisher said, "This is an exciting addition to our Yellow Jacket family. Women's flag football offers future students another reason to consider BW and gives current students a new opportunity to compete and grow."
"Adding women's flag football as a varsity sport reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes and meeting them where their passions lie," said BW Director of Athletics and Recreation Steve Thompson. "This is an exciting moment for Baldwin Wallace, and we're proud to help lead the growth of one of the fastest-emerging sports in the country."
Interest in women's flag football continues to accelerate nationwide at both the high school and collegiate levels. More than 230 colleges across the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA now sponsor women's flag football at either the varsity or club level.
In Ohio, participation has grown rapidly; 121 high school teams now compete statewide, a 102% increase from last year alone.
National participation trends also indicate that women's flag football attracts significant interest from first-generation, underrepresented and out-of-state students.
Prospective student-athletes who wish to learn more about BW Women's Flag Football or be contacted when recruiting begins can complete the interest form on bwyellowjackets.com.
