Molloy University adds women's flag football
Molloy University announced the addition of women's flag football, which will begin in the spring of 2028. Credit: Linda Rosier
Flag football continues to grow across the United States ahead of its 2028 Olympic debut in Los Angeles, and now Long Island is adding a collegiate program to the mix.
Molloy University announced in a news release Tuesday the addition of women’s flag football as a varsity program, which is set to debut during the 2027-28 academic year. Practices will begin in fall 2027 before taking part in the spring 2028 season.
“We are excited to bring women’s flag football to Molloy and provide another outstanding avenue for student-athletes to compete, grow, and represent the Lions with pride,” athletic director Michael Grasso said in the release. “The rapid growth of this sport across the country makes this an exciting time to expand our athletic offerings and welcome a new generation of student-athletes to our community.”
The Aspen Institute's state of play 2025 report showed that from 2019-24, flag football participation among kids ages 6-17 increased by 14% while baseball, football, soccer and basketball all experienced decreased rates.
The NCAA’s committee on access, opportunity and impact voted in May to recommend that colleges establish an NCAA national flag football championship in 2028. Molloy, which is located in Rockville Centre, announced in the release that the university will begin recruiting student-athletes for the program in the coming months.
“The addition of women’s flag football to Molloy athletics represents an exciting new chapter for our university,” Janine Biscari, vice president for student affairs, said in the release. “This sport reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for women on campus, fostering leadership, teamwork, and competitive excellence. We are thrilled to welcome future student-athletes who will help build this program from the ground up and create a lasting legacy for generations of Lions to come.”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
