Warner Caps Perfect Season with NAIA Invitational Title
Warner University completed a perfect 24-0 season by defeating Keiser University 13-6 in the 2026 NAIA Women’s Flag Invitational Championship Game.
After trailing 6-0 early, Warner relied on its defense to secure the program’s first national title. Jessica Finley delivered two key fourth-quarter interceptions, including a game-clinching pick in the final minutes.
Keiser struck first when Ava Wallace connected with Ashlea Klam for an opening touchdown, but Warner’s defense kept the Seahawks from extending the lead with multiple red-zone stops and a critical interception by Andrea Castillo before halftime. Warner finally broke through in the second half when O’Mariah Gordon found Maggie Lauber to tie the game at 6-6. Late in the fourth quarter, Finley’s interception set up the go-ahead touchdown pass from Kathryn Hutchinson to Ana Vincensini, giving the Royals a 13-6 lead they would not surrender.
The tournament also featured one of the biggest upsets in NAIA flag football history as Ottawa University, the five-time defending national champion was eliminated by Kansas Wesleyan University in the quarterfinals. Kansas Wesleyan stunned Ottawa with a late touchdown to end the Braves’ historic championship run.
Florida Gateway Claims Fourth NJCAA National Championship
Florida Gateway College continued its dominance in women’s flag football by capturing its fourth NJCAA National Championship with an impressive 53-13 victory over Daytona State College in the title game. Led by Team USA standout London Jenkins, Florida Gateway showcased one of the most explosive offensive performances of the tournament. From the opening drive, the Timberwolves controlled the pace of the game with quick scoring drives, strong quarterback play, and relentless pressure on both sides of the ball.
The victory further solidifies Florida Gateway as one of the premier programs in NJCAA women’s flag football. With four national titles now to their name, the Timberwolves continue to set the standard at the junior college level and reinforce Florida’s growing reputation as a powerhouse for women’s flag football talent.
Webber International Wins 2026 RCX Women’s College Finals
Webber International University captured the 2026 RCX Women’s College Finals championship with a hard-fought 24-18 victory over Alabama State University.
The event ran alongside the NAIA Women’s Flag Football Invitational, bringing together some of the top women’s flag football programs in the country for a multi-day showcase of talent and competition held at IMG Academy in Flordia. Webber narrowly made it to the championship game by defeating the Spartans 14-12 in the semi-final.
This was an exciting and eventful weekend for college flag football. Seeing a new face crowned as the NAIA national champion showed just how much the game is evolving and how competitive the landscape has become. The future of flag football is incredibly bright, and with more Division I programs continuing to join the movement, the college flag football landscape could look completely different by this time next year.
Interested in learning more about how to get started? Check out this article about everything you need to know before starting a flag football program.