Historic Illinois Collegiate Women’s Flag Football Tournament Concludes at Iconic Chicago Bears’ Walter Payton Center

The inaugural women’s collegiate flag football tournament in Illinois concluded on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the state.

Hosted at the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall, the competition saw seven teams from across Illinois vying for the championship. This event follows last year’s groundbreaking collegiate showdown in Illinois, further cementing the sport’s presence.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

This weekend’s tournament highlights the progress made in women’s sports, a development that has garnered commendation from the Chicago Bears’ leadership.

“We see this as the birthplace of girls’ flag football,” stated Gustavo Silva, the Chicago Bears’ Director of Football Development. “Our journey began here, supported greatly by the Bears and the McCaskey family, who are deeply invested in advancing women’s sports.”

Among the participating teams was Benedictine University, led by a female coach, marking an important moment for the team and the sport.

“I couldn’t have dreamt it before; it’s more than that. It’s just that I decided to hop on and brought in some really great coaches to help me, and the girls are amazing,” said Benedictine University women’s flag football head coach Caroline Schwartz.

For Leilani Gawne, a player at Benedictine, this is a relatively new sport for her. But the senior student is excited about the endless possibilities.

“I’ve always loved sports, and this is an opportunity to help a lot of women and help grow the sport,” Gawne said. “Just staying in shape, being athletic, taking care of yourself, and just knowing that it’s a new sport, so we’re all learning and growing together.”

Girls high school flag football was officially sanctioned as a sport in Illinois in 2024. Over the last years, the sport has exploded, paving the way for more collegiate teams and opportunities for women.

“Potentially, some of our girls here could be playing in the 2028 Olympics and beyond. So, we really are just looking to bring girls and females into the ecosystem and benefit from everything that’s great about the sport,” Silva said.