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Texas Wesleyan is pioneering in the realm of athletics.
On Wednesday, the university announced the addition of women’s flag football to its athletics program, making it the first university in Texas to compete at the varsity level.
The team will debut in the 2026 spring season with a roster of 25 to 30 student-athletes. The program will compete nationwide as part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. It will be a scholarship sport. The university is still evaluating its scholarship model while ensuring it fits within the limits of the NAIA.
The university also is actively searching for a head coach to lead the program, according to a press release.
“We are incredibly excited to add women’s flag football to our athletic program,” said Emily Messer, Texas Wesleyan president, in a statement. “This exciting new athletic program aligns with our commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our student-athletes and to making a positive impact on our community. By offering this unique sport, we hope to inspire young girls and women to pursue their athletic dreams and combine them with a world-class education at Texas Wesleyan."
The team will share the forthcoming Karen Cramer Athletic Stadium with the football team. The stadium is expected to be open for the start of the 2026 fall football season.
The school said that Marjorie Herrera Lewis, Commissioner of the Women’s Pro Flag Football League and a Fort Worth resident, is also involved, having “generously donated to fund the team’s startup costs.” Lewis is the author of When the Men Were Gone, a historical novel based on the true story of high school teacher Tylene Wilson taking over as the head football coach of Brownwood High School during World War II.
“I am thrilled that Texas Wesleyan is adding women’s flag football to its sports program,” Lewis said. “Flag football is fast becoming one of the most popular participation sports in the country, and once again, Texas Wesleyan is ahead of the curve.”
Lewis is a former reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In 1986, she became the first woman assigned to the Dallas Cowboys beat.
“I’m happy to make this donation and plan to attend games for many years," Lewis added. "What a thrill it is to be at the ground floor of bringing this sports opportunity for women to the campus. What’d I’d give to be a couple decades younger.”
The decision to add women’s flag football aligns with the rapid growth of flag football across the globe. The sport has been included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, meaning Texas Wesleyan will likely be a player in developing players for Team USA.
High school participation has soared. According to Sports Business Journal, 42,955 girls participated in the 2023-24 season, a 105% increase from the previous year. Nearly half a million girls ages 6-17 played flag football nationwide in 2023.
With Wesleyan’s addition, the number of colleges participating in flag football has grown to 25 since the NAIA introduced the sport 2021. At the junior college level nationally, nine colleges are fielding teams, according to Sports Business Journal.
Also, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics is reviewing an application to add the sport.
In support of efforts to grow the sport, the National Football League has joined with the RCX Sports Foundation to create the international Women’s Flag Football Scholarship Program, which will offer four scholarships for flag football players to attend a U.S. college or university that has a varsity flag football program. One scholarship will be awarded in each of the following regions —Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
"We're excited to elevate women's flag football to new heights here in Texas as well as nationally,” said Ricky Dotson, Texas Wesleyan athletic director.
“As the sport continues to grow, Texas Wesleyan University is proud to be at the forefront, preparing our student-athletes for the future, including the 2028 Olympics.”