Flag football will be among 17 sports offered by the University of West Alabama for the 2026-27 athletic year.

The Tigers will join Nova Southeastern, Saint Leo and Tampa as universities sponsoring the sport in what UWA called the “South Region.”

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“By adding this dynamic sport, we are not only expanding our offerings, we’re creating new pathways for female student-athletes to compete, grow, and thrive at the collegiate level,” athletic director Brett Gilliland said in a news release.

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Earlier in the year, the NCAA gave a recommendation that women’s flag football join the emerging Sports for Women Program, a step that moves the sport closer to getting its own NCAA championship. At least 65 NCAA schools are sponsoring the sport — which has been added to the docket for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles — at either the club or varsity levels in 2025.

As West Alabama adds flag football, what is the scene like across the state?

“UWA is taking the lead in one of the region’s fastest-growing sports, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, growth, and athletic excellence,” Gilliland said.

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According to UWA, out of 1,296 varsity teams nationwide, there are 57 programs carrying women’s flag football in the state of Alabama after the sport was sanctioned for high schools in 2021. Collegiately, there are 43 Division I teams, 37 Division II teams and 65 teams in Division III.

Teams are expected to carry an average roster of 25 players and compete 7-on-7 for four 12-minute quarters on an 80- by 40-yard field.

“As the sport gains momentum across the country, we’re proud to be among the first to embrace its future,” Gilliland said. “This move reflects our continued dedication to building an athletic department that empowers our student-athletes, and positions UWA as a leader both on and off the field.”

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: West Alabama adopting flag football for 2026-27 season: What to know