LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WLS) — The first-ever Illinois collegiate women’s flag football tournament wrapped up on Sunday.
Seven Illinois teams competed for the title at the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall. The event is a continuation of last year’s historic collegiate matchup in the state.
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This weekend’s tournament is a celebration of how far the sport has come for women, something that Chicago Bears leadership is proud of.
“We consider this the home of girls flag football. This is where it all started. Obviously, it comes from tremendous support, from the Bears, from the McCaskey family, who cares deeply about women’s sports,” said Bears Director of Football Development Gustavo Silva.
One of the competing teams is Benedictine University. This moment is significant for the team, which is led by a female coach.
“I couldn’t have dreamt it before; it’s more than that. It’s just that I decided to hop on and brought in some really great coaches to help me, and the girls are amazing,” said Benedictine University women’s flag football head coach Caroline Schwartz.
For Leilani Gawne, a player at Benedictine, this is a relatively new sport for her. But the senior student is excited about the endless possibilities.
“I’ve always loved sports, and this is an opportunity to help a lot of women and help grow the sport,” Gawne said. “Just staying in shape, being athletic, taking care of yourself, and just knowing that it’s a new sport, so we’re all learning and growing together.”
Girls high school flag football was officially sanctioned as a sport in Illinois in 2024. Over the last years, the sport has exploded, paving the way for more collegiate teams and opportunities for women.
“Potentially, some of our girls here could be playing in the 2028 Olympics and beyond. So, we really are just looking to bring girls and females into the ecosystem and benefit from everything that’s great about the sport,” Silva said.
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