St. Lawrence University is expanding opportunities for student-athletes with the addition of two NCAA Emerging Sports for Women. The Saints will welcome women's triathlon in fall 2027 and women's flag football in spring 2028 as its 36th and 37th varsity sports. These new teams will further strengthen one of the nation's most comprehensive Division III athletics programs.

"As St. Lawrence continues to invest in the student experience, we're proud to expand opportunities for women to compete, lead, and grow through varsity athletics," says President Kate Morris. "Adding women's flag football and women's triathlon reflects both the remarkable momentum of these sports nationwide and our commitment to evolving in ways that serve today's students while strengthening the future of the University."

Women's Flag Football Joins the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women Program

Women's flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. More than 43,000 girls now compete at the high school level, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, and 17 states, including New York, officially sanction the sport. New York launched girls' flag football in 2022, recognized it as a state championship sport in 2023, and crowned its first NYSPHSAA champions in 2024. It was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program earlier this year.

Featuring seven-on-seven competition, women's flag football combines the strategy of football with a faster-paced game that emphasizes speed, agility, and teamwork. Teams of approximately 25 players compete in four 12-minute quarters.

Women's Triathlon Continues to Grow as an NCAA Emerging Sport

Women's triathlon has likewise experienced rapid expansion since becoming an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in 2014. The NCAA counted 41 sponsoring institutions during the 2025–26 academic year, with participation increasing 19 percent over the past two years. n NCAA competition, athletes race a sprint-distance triathlon consisting of a 750-meter open-water swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride, and a five-kilometer run. The season culminates each fall with regional championships followed by the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships.

Together, these new programs represent St. Lawrence's commitment to evolving alongside the interests of today's student-athletes while remaining grounded in the values that have long defined Saints Athletics: teamwork, resilience, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence.

"At St. Lawrence, athletics is about more than competition—it's about helping students discover what they're capable of in sport and beyond," says Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Franco Bari '98, M'10, adding that recruitment of coaches and players will begin this fall. "Women's flag football and women's triathlon are attracting talented student-athletes who are looking for a place where they can compete at a high level while being part of a close, supportive community. We're excited to welcome them to the Saints family and help build these programs from the ground up."

Recruiting Begins This Fall

Recruitment for coaches and student-athletes begins this fall as St. Lawrence prepares to launch both programs.

Prospective students who are interested in women's flag football can complete the women's flag football recruiting questionnaire and send questions to SLUflagfootball@stlawu.edu.

Prospective students who are interested in women's triathlon can complete the women's triathlon recruiting questionnaire and send questions to SLUtriathlon@stlawu.edu.