Augustana, Minnesota Vikings partner to launch women’s flag football league

Female students at Augustana University can play flag football starting this spring, thanks to a new partnership involving the Minnesota Vikings.

It creates a collegiate women’s flag football league. Participating schools include AU, Concordia College – Moorhead, Gustavus Adolphus College, Bethel University, the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and University of Wisconsin – Stout.

As part of the partnership, the Minnesota Vikings — with the support of the NFL — will contribute $140,000 toward the league and its participating institutions.

“Football has been a huge part of my life in so many ways, through my career as a band director, where I’ve spent countless Friday nights on the sidelines, and as a current player myself with the Sioux Falls Snow Leopards — a semi-professional women’s tackle football team in Sioux Falls,” said Kiley Coyne, head coach of the Augustana women’s flag football team.

“When the opportunity arose to help bring women’s collegiate flag football to Augustana University, I knew I had to be part of it. This is a chance to build something special, to give women a new platform to compete, grow and lead. I’m incredibly excited for this partnership and can’t wait to see the impact this program will have on our players and the community.”

Teams will compete in jamborees April 5 at UNW and April 12 at UW Stout, leading up to the championship tournament April 26 at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota.

“This is a significant moment for the continued growth of girls’ and women’s flag football,” said Brett Taber, the Vikings’ vice president of social impact. “These institutions are set to do something unique, and their partnership with the Vikings and the NFL will bring further awareness to the future of women’s football and empower the next generation of athletes to find opportunities to compete and shape this game.”