NEWBERRY, S.C. – Conference Carolinas announced the addition of Newberry College as an associate member in women's flag football for the 2026-27 academic year.

Conference Carolinas was the first NCAA Division I or II conference to announce plans to sponsor women's flag football with the opening season starting in February of 2026 with 11 members. The addition of Newberry brings the total members in 2027 to 12.

"Conference Carolinas is happy to have Newberry College as an associate member in women's flag football," Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "It is great to continue the relationship with Newberry who is already an associate member in acrobatics & tumbling and men's and women's wrestling."

Conference Carolinas will compete in 2026 with 11 members: Barton College, Chowan University, Emmanuel University, Ersking College, Ferrum College, King University, Lees-McRae College and the University of Mount Olive as well as associate members Mars Hill University, Mount St. Mary's University and Wingate University.

"This is an important step forward for our inaugural varsity women's flag football program at Newberry College," Newberry Vice President for Athletics Sean Johnson said. "This move is critical to developing a schedule for the 2027 season and assisting our efforts in hiring a head coach and recruiting student-athletes. We are extremely grateful to Commissioner Colvin and the Conference Carolinas membership for extending this opportunity to us."

The NCAA Committee of Women's Athletics has recommended to each of the three divisions that women's flag football be recognized as emerging sport. Each division will consider that recommendation at this week's NCAA Convention.

The average roster size is approximately 25 players that will play 7-on-7. Teams score six points for a touchdown and can gain an extra one or two points for a set play from the five- or 10-yard lines. Players will wear tightly fixed flag belts with sockets and two pop flags on either side of their hips.

The NFL is a huge supporter of the growth of flag football. Numerous NFL facilities and stadiums have been utilized for competitions and clinics while several players have attended and engaged with athletes to grow the sport.  Across the country this past year, more than 750,000 youth took part in NFL FLAG leagues, with nearly 500,000 of those athletes being female, and 14 states have now sanctioned girls flag football as championship sports, thanks to the work of the NFL and RCX Sports, the official operator of NFL FLAG.