Iowa College Adding Women’s Flag Football as a Varsity Sport

One of the fastest-growing sports in America is women's flag football. And on Wednesday, an Iowa college announced that it will add flag football to its list of varsity sports.

Which Iowa Colleges Offer Women's Flag Football?

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Cornell College in Mt. Vernon will be adding women's flag football as a varsity sport. Cornell will join Graceland University and Maharishi International University as the only Iowa colleges to offer the sport. The Gazette reports that there are more than 200 varsity and club teams that will compete in 2026, with 40 more teams set to join in 2027.

Cornell Names New Women's Flag Football Head Coach

The Gazette reports that the woman who will lead Cornell's team will be Courtney Pennel, the founder and director of Iowa's first all-female NFL Flag League. Pennel has been instrumental in organizing skill development for females age 12 to 18 in the Cedar Rapids area. The Gazette reports that this past summer, she formed a league that partnered with the Minnesota Vikings.

Women's Flag Football is Growing Fast

The Gazette reports that women's flag football has the support of the NFL and will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Flag football is also under consideration for inclusion in the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. Coach Pennel told the Gazette, "We're trailblazing. We're going to be the best of the best at Cornell." The Rams will start playing games in the spring of 2027.