BRIDGEWATER, Va. – On Dec. 5, 2025, Bridgewater College Athletics announced the addition of the Women’s Flag Football team, continuing the growth of women’s athletics.
Director of Athletic Media Relations, Leyton Pullin, believes the addition of women’s flag football is an important step forward that puts Bridgewater ahead of national trends. While only a couple of ODAC schools currently have the sport, Pullin said others are expected to follow within the next few years.
Bridgewater’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was involved in the decision-making process. While SAAC members do not have the authority to approve the program or directly cast a vote at the NCAA conference, SAAC member Aniella Baldwin said their voice provides valuable feedback to Bridgewater Athletic Directors and staff, giving athletic directors a better understanding of student-athlete perspectives that may influence how Bridgewater approaches the official NCAA vote.
Baldwin said the committee guides communication between student-athletes and the athletic department staff, while also allowing athletes from different teams to support one another.
“This was my first year on SAAC, so having the chance to vote on something like this was really cool,” Baldwin said. “It felt inclusive and showed that the administration actually cared about what student-athletes think.”
Baldwin voted in favor of women’s flag football, emphasizing the sport’s rapid growth and the potential to expand opportunities for women in athletics on campus. Baldwin also said the new program will create more inclusion and representation for Bridgewater and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
The NFL FLAG reports significant growth in involvement nationwide over the past several years, reflecting the demand for higher-level sports programs. Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with increasing participation at the youth, high school and college levels. Currently, more than 65 schools offer the sport at the club or varsity level.
“I think continuing to add sports like this will just make us stronger as a community and an overall stronger athletic program,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin said the announcement has been met with positive reactions from teammates and other student-athletes.
“I think everyone is hyped about it,” Baldwin said.
Pullin said that Bridgewater has historically supported women in athletics, and the addition of women’s flag football is a continuation of that approach.
“This is something new, something that’s coming down the pipe,” Pullin said. “I think the biggest thing is we’re going to be ahead of it when it explodes eventually.”
According to the Bridgewater College women’s volleyball record book, the college offered women’s volleyball starting in 1976, before ODAC sponsorship of the sport in 1982. Bridgewater also started competition for women’s lacrosse in 1968, with ODAC sponsorship beginning in 1983.
“Bridgewater has always been on the forefront of women’s athletics,” Pullin said. “We’ve always been ahead of the curve when it comes to women’s athletics in general.”
Links to women’s sports statistics:
BC Women’s Volleyball Record Book
