Sens. Rubio, Shaheen Call for NCAA to Back Women’s Flag Football Ahead of 2028 Olympics Inclusion

Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Jeanne Sheehan, D-N.H., are urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to recognize women's flag football in university programs following the 2028 Summer Olympics announcement that it will be included as an official event.

“Currently, only the institutions of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) formally provide women’s flag football programs. More than 30 schools offer this sport to women, with five of those schools based in Florida," Rubio and Sheehan wrote to NCAA President Charlie Baker in a letter on Wednesday.

They continued: "With this growing sport, and its benefits to women, the Olympic Committee’s announcement is timely. The NCAA should use this opportunity to proactively educate and encourage its schools to formalize programs. This in turn would allow collegiate women scholarship opportunities and serve as a feeder to the Olympics where they can proudly represent their country and school.”

The senators pointed to the National Football League's (NFL) recent recognition of women's flag football, encouraging the collegiate organization to follow suit and do the same.

"Women’s sports, from youth to the highest levels, allows immeasurable benefits for female student athletes. As such, we request your leadership and support to ensure that all NCAA institutions are encouraged to provide women’s flag football programs," the letter concluded.