General | 8/13/2026 2:29:08 PM

NORFOLK, Va. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced Thursday the addition of Mississippi Valley State University and Gardner-Webb University as associate members in women’s flag football, bringing the conference’s total membership in the sport to six.

Both institutions will begin competition during the 2026-27 academic year, joining four full members, Delaware State, Maryland Eastern Shore, Norfolk State and North Carolina Central in women’s flag football.

“We are excited to welcome Mississippi Valley State and Gardner-Webb to the MEAC as associate members in women’s flag football,” said MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills. “Their addition strengthens our presence in this emerging sport and reflects our continued commitment to expanding its championship opportunities for women. We look forward to establishing a competitive and collaborative flag football environment as the sport continues to take shape at the collegiate level.”

Women’s flag football is an NCAA Emerging Sport and is positioned to pursue NCAA championship status, with the potential to host its inaugural championship as early as spring 2028. The sport is also set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, further highlighting its rapid growth and increasing global recognition.

“Joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as an associate member for women’s flag football is a historic milestone for Mississippi Valley State University,” stated Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson, Director of Athletics at Mississippi Valley State. “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this movement, providing our student-athletes a monumental stage to compete in an emerging sport that is capturing global attention ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. We are honored to partner with the MEAC at building opportunities for the continued success of women in athletics."

"We are extremely excited for our flag football team to compete in its inaugural season and are grateful for the opportunity to become an associate member of the MEAC,” Brendan Fahey, Gardner-Webb Vice President for Athletics. “This is an incredible opportunity for our student-athletes and our University, and we are proud to begin this journey as part of such a historic conference. We look forward to competing at the highest level and representing Gardner-Webb and the MEAC with pride as we build a strong foundation for our program."

With the addition of Mississippi Valley State and Gardner-Webb, the MEAC will enter its inaugural season of women’s flag football in 2026-27 with six institutions competing in the sport. Championship formats and additional operational details will be announced at a later date.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.