The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' inaugural women's flag football season came to a close at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in early May. The NAIA, NFL FLAG, Reigning Champs Experiences and the Atlanta Falcons hosted the first-ever NAIA Women's Flag Football Finals in Atlanta from May 5-8.
Ten programs – Cottey College (Missouri), Kansas Wesleyan University (Kansas), Keiser University (Florida), Midland University (Nebraska), Milligan University (Tennessee), Ottawa University (Kansas), St. Thomas University (Florida), University of Saint Mary (Kansas), Webber International University (Florida) and Xavier University of Louisiana (Louisiana) – descended upon Atlanta to compete in the inaugural tournament.
Atlanta Falcons President & CEO Rich McKay and Motivational Speaker and Founder of I'm Changing the Narrative Rachel Baribeau kicked off the tournament by speaking to all 10 teams at the Opening Ceremony at Silverbacks Park.
"We are thrilled to host the inaugural NAIA's Women's Flag Football Finals and NAIA Flag Showcase at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Our organization has seen the appetite and enthusiasm for women's flag football first-hand at the high school level in both Georgia and Alabama, and we are excited to see it grow on the collegiate level as well.” Atlanta Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay
Following pool play on Thursday, May 6, all 10 teams arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to begin bracket play. Entering Saturday, May 8, five teams remained in the hunt to be crowned the 2021 NAIA Women's Flag champions.
Five-seeded St. Thomas University began Saturday with a victory over four-seeded Midland University to advance to the semi-finals; however, the top seeds would prevail to the finals as top-seeded Keiser University from Florida took down St. Thomas, 32-0, in the semis and two-seeded Ottawa University from Kansas defeated three-seeded Webber International University, 27-12.
In the finals, the Ottawa University Braves pulled off the upset with a one-point victory to capture the first-ever NAIA Women's Flag Championship.
NAIA Girls Flag Football High School Showcase
On Friday, May 7, the Atlanta Falcons, NFL FLAG and Reigning Champs Experiences (RCX) hosted more than 130 high school flag football players from across Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a showcase with the NAIA coaches.
Following the showcase, 39 offers were extended to athletes to play flag football at the collegiate level.
The Falcons are the first NFL organization to cover the costs for all participants to attend a showcase of this magnitude at no cost. Over the past several years, the Falcons organization has undertaken a larger initiative of growing the game of girls flag football.
In addition to helping sanction and expand the game in Georgia, the Falcons recently helped sanction the sport in the state of Alabama as well.
Following the showcase, 39 offers were extended to athletes to play flag football at the collegiate level.
