On May 4, 2020, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced women's flag football would be a varsity sport in the spring of 2021, thanks to a partnership between the NAIA, NFL, and RCX.
On March 25, 2021, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced women's flag football as an emerging sport!
This year, at the 2023 Women's Flag Finals we hosted both the NAIA Women's Flag Finals and the NJCAA Women's Flag Football Invitational!
Fun Facts:
- First-ever Women's Flag Finals to host both NAIA and NJCAA
- NJCAA first year doing the Women's Flag Football Invitational
- Largest ever Women's Flag Finals with 13 schools
NAIA WOMEN'S FLAG FINALS
Teams Represented:
- Campbellsville University - KY
- Cottey College - MO
- Kansas Wesleyan University - KS
- Keiser University - FL
- Midland University - NE
- Ottawa University - KS
- St. Thomas University - FL
- Thomas University - GA
- Warner University - FL
- Webber International University - FL
Number of Teams: 10
NAIA All-Tournament Team Winners
- QB - Madysen Carrera - Ottawa
- Center - Alyssa Linkous - Ottawa
- Blocker - Kiana Acol - Thomas
- WR - Brenna Ramirez - Keiser
- WR - Kennedy Foster - Keiser
- WR - Jaz Camacho - Ottawa
- Offensive Athlete - Brianna Hernandez-Silva - Kansas Wesleyan
- Rusher - Jaida Reese - Thomas
- Linebacker - Brittney Delva - Thomas
- Safety - Kaitlyn Sigmundi - Webber
- DB - Ameari Logan - Warner
- DB - Angel Roman - Kansas Wesleyan
- DB - Cynthia Homs - Warner
- Defensive Athlete - Tashumba Washington - St. Thomas
- All Tournament MVP - Alyssa Linkous
NJCAA Women's Flag Invitational
EVENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday
- Practice and Team Check-In
- Team activity: Atlanta United Game for all athletes and coaches
Thursday
- Bracket Play Games at Franklin Gateway
Friday
- Playoffs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Home Depot Backyard
- NFL FLAG College Showcase
Saturday
- NAIA Consolation Game
- NJCAA Semi Finals
- All-Tournament Team Award ceremony at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- NAIA Finals Game 1
- NAIA Finals Game 2
NFL FLAG Womens College Showcase
NFL FLAG Womens College Showcase
NFL FLAG and the Atlanta Falcons hosted a FREE Atlanta Falcons NFL FLAG Women's Flag Football Showcase at Mercedes Benz Stadium for the third year in a row. High school flag football athletes showed their skills in front of NAIA and NJCAA coaches and supporters.
Athletes were welcomed by opening speeches from the Falcons, a free NAIA Showcase t-shirt, Atlanta Falcons swag and an electric atmosphere inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
NAIA Schools that attended:
- St Thomas University
- Cottey College
- Point University
- Atlantis University
- Kansas Wesleyan University
- Ottawa University
- Baker University
- Kansas Wesleyan
- Midland University
- Life University
- Thomas University
- Campbellsville University
- Keiser University
NJCAA Coaches that attended:
- Hesston College
- Pratt Community College
- Fort Scott Community College
- Florida Gateway College
Number of offers given out at the NFL FLAG Women's Showcase: 40+
SOCIAL STATS FROM THE 2023 WOMEN'S FLAG FINALS
- 193 Total Posts (Across Instagram Feed/Story, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok)
- 777,387 Total Impressions
- 3,309 Average Reach Per Post
- 48,167 Total Engagements
- 17,063 Total Reactions
- 830 Total Comments
- 758 Total Shares
- 594 Total Followers Gained (across all platforms)
THANK YOU to the Atlanta Falcons, NAIA, NJCAA, the athletes, coaches, parents and staff for making this event happen!
Credits:
Justin Dela Cruz