Wingate University captured the inaugural Conference Carolinas women’s flag football championship over the weekend, defeating Ferrum 32-14 in Sunday’s title game at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Addison Morgan earned tournament MVP honors, while Kylie Watt, Natalyn Lumpkin and Alana Placide made the all-tournament team from Wingate, which finished its season 11-2.
The top-seeded Bulldogs beat Mount St. Mary’s 31-0 in Friday’s quarterfinals, then dispatched of No. 4 Barton by a 32-18 score on Saturday.
Morgan, a freshman from Webster, NY, made an interception, broke up another pass and recorded a pair of tackles in the championship game.
Jhenelle Francis spearheaded the offense, completing 23-of-32 passes for 210 yards and two TDs. Francis, a freshman from Apopka, FL, also rushed for 60 yards and three touchdowns.
Kaylee Montalvo made eight catches for 67 yards and one score. Sarah Leibowitz added six more receptions for 65 yards. Hailey Buis had the other TD reception.
On the defensive end, Addison Cadwell and Francis also had interceptions. Placide led Wingate in tackles with seven. Evonne Bruestle had six stops, including two for losses.
Joe Schlager is the Wingate head coach.
Wingate coach Joe Schlager, Jhenelle Francis and Addison Morgan (tournament MOP) talk about taking the first Conference Carolinas Women’s Flag Football title:@WU_Bulldogs @wingate_flagfb pic.twitter.com/r42Nh5jfuk — Asheebo Rojas (@AsheeboR38) April 19, 2026
What it means?
Women’s flag football is among the fastest growing sports in the country. Conference Carolinas became the first NCAA Division I or II league to sponsor flag football as a varsity sport, and Wingate garnered the first official trophy.
Ten schools in the Division II conference, including six from North Carolina, were at the forefront of this emerging phenomenon. North Carolina’s contingent in Conference Carolinas included Wingate, Barton, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, Chowan and Mars Hill. Barton and Lees-McRae finished tied for third in the final standings (7-2) and made the tournament semifinals.
The CIAA recently wrapped up its second season offering women’s flag football as a club-level sport. The HBCU conference plans to sponsor the sport at the varsity level in 2026-27.
Winston-Salem State has established itself as the front-runner in that conference, winning back-to-back CIAA titles in 2025 and 2026. The Rams edged Fayetteville State 12-6 on April 11 for its most recent championship.
2026 Conference Carolinas Women’s Flag Football Championship
At Durham County Memorial Stadium | April 17-19
Quarterfinals | Friday, April 17
No. 1 Wingate def. No. 8 Mount St. Mary’s, 31-0
No. 4 Barton def. No. 5 Emmanuel, 39-31
No. 3 Lees-McRae def. No. 6 King, 47-6
No. 2 Ferrum def. No. 7 Mount Olive, 72-0
Semifinals | Saturday, April 18
No. 1 Wingate def. No. 4 Barton, 32-18
No. 2 Ferrum def. No. 3 Lees-McRae, 27-20
Championship | Sunday, April 19
No. 1 Wingate def. No. 2 Ferrum, 32-14
2026 Women’s Flag Football All-Tournament Team
MVP: Addison Morgan, Wingate
Kylie Watt, Wingate
Natalyn Lumpkin, Wingate
Alana Placide, Wingate
Jaden Hiers, Ferrum
Samantha Pitzer, Ferrum
Macy Taylor, Ferrum
Kennedy Vannoy, Lees-McRae
Valerie-Ange Batta, Barton
Final 2026 Conference Carolinas Standings
Wingate 11-2 (8-1 conference)
Ferrum 18-4 (8-1)
Barton 11-3 (7-2)
Lees-McRae 11-8 (7-2)
Emmanuel 9-10 (5-4)
King 3-10 (4-5)
Mount Olive 7-8 (3-6)
Mount St. Mary’s 7-12 (3-6)
Chowan 1-12 (1-8)
Mars Hill 0-13 (0-9)
