{"id":5659,"date":"2026-06-22T15:51:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/?p=5659"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:51:26","slug":"womens-flag-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/womens-flag-football\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Women\u2019s Flag Football at University of Bridgeport"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Kwadir Delgado-McIntyre arrived for his interview, he was already dressed in purple.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey gave me some gear,\u201d he laughed, \u201cand I like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That easy confidence \u2014 and obvious pride \u2014 captures the spirit of something entirely new taking shape at University of Bridgeport: women\u2019s flag football, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and an emerging National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sport that UB will officially debut in spring 2027, just in time for the University\u2019s centennial celebration.<\/p>\n

At the center of that launch is Kwadir, UB\u2019s first head coach of women\u2019s flag football \u2014 part builder, part recruiter, part mentor, and wholly invested in the future of the game.<\/p>\n

For alumni who played football at UB decades ago \u2014 or packed Kennedy Stadium to watch it \u2014 flag football may sound familiar, but it\u2019s a fundamentally different sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are fast blitzers and you can\u2019t block them physically,\u201d Kwadir explains. \u201cSo, the quarterback has to make decisions right away. The speed of the game and ability to remain under control. That\u2019s what makes Women\u2019s Flag Football.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of tackling, defenders stop the ball carrier by pulling a flag from their belt. The game is faster, more spatial, and demands quick decision-making. Most collegiate women\u2019s teams play with seven athletes on the field instead of eleven, on a shorter, narrower field (80 yards instead of 100).<\/p>\n

There are still downs, punts, and touchdowns, but the condensed field and fewer players create a constant sense of motion. The sport rewards agility, anticipation, and teamwork.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll see a woman score a touchdown and hit a dance or celebrate with her team,\u201d Kwadir said. \u201cThat individuality, mixed with team energy \u2014 that\u2019s what people connect to.\u201d Flag football opens the game of football to athletes who may never have had access to it before \u2014 volleyball players, soccer players, track athletes, and students who simply love the game but never had a place to play it. At UB right now, that interest is coming from across campus.<\/p>\n

The sport has also gained popularity amongst high school students. Participation has surged across the country; parents are packing sidelines, and professional leagues \u2014 including the National Football League (NFL) \u2014 are putting their weight behind the sport.<\/p>\n

Senior Associate Athletic Director Kate Backman has watched the sport grow firsthand. \u201cIt\u2019s the fastest-growing sport for women right now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Athletic Director Anthony Vitti sees the addition as a natural fit for UB. \u201cIt provides opportunities for women,\u201d Vitti added. \u201cIt\u2019s an emergent sport in the NCAA, and we\u2019re really excited to add it at UB.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Kwadir, the significance runs deeper than numbers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis sport is a success amongst female students, and gives more women opportunity,\u201d he said. \u201cNot just to play, but to be seen differently. It\u2019s empowering.\u201d<\/p>\n

That excitement is already shared by students on campus. Angelise Melendez, a Criminal Justice major<\/a> with a minor in Psychology<\/a>, is eager to be part of the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really interested in joining the flag football team because I believe it can bring something new and exciting to UB,\u201d Melendez said. \u201cGrowing up, I played a variety of sports, so I\u2019m always open to learning something new and challenging myself in different ways. I see flag football as an opportunity to gain new skills and possibly grow into a sport I can really excel in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melendez is especially energized by the launch of a women\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince I\u2019m already very involved on campus through clubs, my role as an RA, and working in Residential Life, I\u2019m excited to extend that involvement into athletics and be part of something that can have a strong impact on the community,\u201d she said. \u201cBringing flag football to UB adds a fresh culture and energy that I think a lot of students will connect with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kwadir\u2019s journey to UB has been shaped by football at every level. A two-time team captain at Southern Connecticut State University, he played collegiately from 2016-2021, earned both his undergraduate degree in Marketing<\/a> and a master\u2019s in Business Administration (MBA)<\/a>, and briefly played professional indoor football. Along the way, he worked with high-level coaches, including former NFL standout Carnell Lake, and built experience in player development, officiating, and youth flag football.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s awesome. He\u2019s hustling,\u201d said Vice President of Athletics, Recreation, and Student Life Jay Moran. \u201cHe wants to grow the program here, and he\u2019s going to do a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kwadir brings not just experience, but empathy.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a lot of people, football is how they deal with life,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s where you express yourself \u2014 where you scream, celebrate, or just let things out. That doesn\u2019t change in flag football.\u201d<\/p>\n

The inaugural UB women\u2019s flag football team will take the field in spring 2027, with an expected roster of about 15 players, growing to approximately 25 by spring 2028. Recruitment is well underway for 2026-2027 athletes who will form the program\u2019s foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want competitors,\u201d Kwadir said plainly. \u201cPeople who want to be great. People who love the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kwadir\u2019s vision extends beyond conference success.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want us to just be good. I want us to be nationally ranked. I want UB to be known for flag football.\u201d<\/p>\n

That ambition fits squarely with where University athletics are headed. Recent conference championships in swimming, wrestling, softball, and gymnastics have signaled a powerful upswing \u2014 and women\u2019s flag football represents both continuity and innovation as UB enters its 100th year.<\/p>\n

And if Kwadir has his way?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re winning in 2028,\u201d he said with a grin.<\/p>\n

For UB alumni, this new sport is more than a trend. It\u2019s football reimagined \u2014 faster, more inclusive, and filled with possibility. And it\u2019s just getting started.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Kwadir Delgado-McIntyre arrived for his interview, he was already dressed in purple. \u201cThey gave me some gear,\u201d he laughed, \u201cand I like it.\u201d That easy confidence \u2014 and obvious pride \u2014 captures the spirit of something entirely new taking … Continue reading The Rise of Women\u2019s Flag Football at University of Bridgeport<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5663,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,126,94],"tags":[14,403,2,442,441,404,443,444],"class_list":["post-5659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-athletics","category-featured","tag-athletics","tag-college-athletics","tag-featured","tag-flag-football","tag-ncaa-athletics","tag-student-athlete","tag-women-in-sports","tag-womens-flag-footbal","fallback-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Rise of Women\u2019s Flag Football | University of Bridgeport<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Women\u2019s flag football, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country and an emerging NCAA sport, will officially debut at UB in spring 2027. 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