LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WLS) — The inaugural Illinois collegiate women’s flag football tournament concluded on Sunday with great success.

Seven teams from across Illinois competed for the championship at the Walter Payton Center located in Halas Hall. This event builds on the momentum from last year’s groundbreaking collegiate competition in the state.

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The tournament symbolizes significant progress for women’s sports, a development that has been warmly embraced by the leadership of the Chicago Bears.

“We see this as the birthplace of girls’ flag football. This is where it all began,” stated Gustavo Silva, Director of Football Development for the Bears. “This progress is thanks to the incredible support from the Bears organization and the McCaskey family, who are deeply committed to advancing women’s sports.”

Among the participants was a team from Benedictine University, a milestone moment under the guidance of their female head coach.

“I never imagined something like this could happen; it’s beyond my dreams. I decided to dive in and assembled a fantastic coaching team, and the players are simply amazing,” expressed Caroline Schwartz, head coach of the Benedictine University women’s flag football team.

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.