ARLINGTON, Va. — Marymount University flag football announced its commitment to compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference collegiate flag football league, effective immediately for the upcoming season.

The league, which will launch its inaugural season in spring 2026, was announced in early December alongside a $1 million grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, with the ECAC establishing a partnership with the New York Jets to "expand access and opportunity for women in the sport."

"We are tremendously excited and honored to be part of another historic milestone for collegiate women's flag football," Marymount head coach Mike Rivera said. "Joining the ECAC furthers our goals of being at the forefront of the movement to elevate women's flag football at the NCAA level."

Marymount, entering its third season of competition and coming off back-to-back Atlantic East Conference championships, will continue to compete as a member of the Atlantic East Conference while gaining additional regular-season and postseason opportunities through its addition to the ECAC.

The Saints are set to begin competition against the league's initial group of schools, including Allegheny College, Eastern University, Franciscan University, Kean University, Long Island University, Mercy University, Mercyhurst University, Montclair State University, Mount St. Mary's University and Penn State Schuylkill.

The ECAC will add Caldwell University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Dominican University, Union College and Sweet Briar College in 2027, with the ultimate goal of expanding to a 20-team league.

"The ECAC will provide our players the opportunity to compete against high-caliber opponents from all NCAA division levels," Rivera said.

The season will begin with a media day at MetLife Stadium in February, followed by a USA Football Talent ID Camp the following day.

The regular season will be played in the standard 7-on-7 format at conference member sites from February through April, culminating in a playoff tournament hosted by the Jets during the first weekend in May. Future postseason tournaments are planned to be held at MetLife Stadium, the home of the Jets.

As part of the Jets and BWJF commitment, each participating school will receive a grant to help offset costs associated with fielding and operating a flag football program.

The league's launch comes at a pivotal moment for collegiate women's flag football, with the NCAA set to vote on legislation to move the sport toward emerging sport status at the NCAA Convention in January in Washington, D.C.

Marymount flag football has been part of the Atlantic East Conference since its inception, as the first conference to sponsor an NCAA women's flag football season at any level in 2025. The conference previously hosted a club-level tournament with four member schools in 2024, with the Saints winning the conference championship on both occasions.

Becoming a member of the ECAC while remaining in the Atlantic East Conference places Marymount flag football in historic position as the program continues to help grow one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

"We want to thank the New York Jets for their unparalleled support of women's flag football," Rivera said.

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