Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is pleased to announce the expansion of the athletic program with the addition of Women's Flag Football and Women's Ice Hockey.
"I am thrilled to launch Women's Flag Football and Women's Ice Hockey at Purdue Northwest," Director of Athletics Rick Costello said. "These are wonderful additions to the array of sport offerings at PNW and will create plenty of excitement for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Northwest Indiana community. Most importantly, Flag Football and Ice Hockey will expand athletic participation opportunities for female student-athletes."
"It is very exciting to see the PNW athletic program continue to grow. Adding two women's sports that are rapidly gaining momentum nationally is important to PNW's mission as a student-centered university, while also bringing new athletics options to spectators from throughout our region," PNW Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford said. "We anticipate continuing to expand opportunities for Pride student-athletes, who also excel in the classroom and provide hundreds of service hours in the community."
Purdue Northwest is the first public institution in the state of Indiana to add a collegiate Women's Flag Football team. Women's Flag Football has quickly become one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, with strong support from the NFL. Earlier this month the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics made a recommendation to add flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. This year, over 65 NCAA schools are offering Women's Flag Football at the club or varsity level, with more expected to join in 2026. Additionally, Flag Football will be featured as an official sport in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Women's Flag Football is a 7-on-7 sport played on a 40-yard by 80-yard field. The collegiate flag football season runs from February through May and the inaugural season for the Pride will be in Spring 2026. Purdue Northwest Athletics will immediately conduct a national search for the program's first Women's Flag Football Head Coach.
Women's Ice Hockey will join Purdue Northwest's hockey programs, including DI and DII Men's Ice Hockey, during the 2026-27 school year. Since the inception of Ice Hockey at PNW in 2019, the Pride have experienced remarkable growth on the ice, achieving record-breaking seasons for both men's programs. Highlights include the 2024 Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League Tournament Championship and an Elite Eight finish in the 2024 American Collegiate Hockey Association DI National Tournament.
"The addition of a women's hockey program is an incredible opportunity to grow the sport and provide more student-athletes with a chance to compete at a high level," said Director of Hockey Operations and DI Head Coach Carl Trosien. "I've seen firsthand the positive impact hockey has on student-athletes, both and off the ice. Expanding our program to include women's hockey aligns with our commitment to equity, student-athlete development, and the continued growth of hockey within our community."
The Pride will kick off their inaugural Women's Ice Hockey season in Fall 2026. The new women's team will join the men's teams at The Kube in Hammond, Indiana, which currently serves as the home rink for all Purdue Northwest hockey programs. The athletics department is launching a nationwide search for the program's first Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach.
About the PNW Pride Athletics program
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Athletics consists of 500 student athletes and 23 sports and is a member of the NCAA Division II and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, American Collegiate Hockey Association, and the Midwest Esports Conference. Intercollegiate athletic teams are fielded in men's and women's hockey, women's flag football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, esports, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track & field, softball, stunt and women's volleyball. PNW's athletic teams compete as the Pride, evoking both a pride of lions and the pride we show in our students, faculty, and community.For more information on the Purdue University Northwest athletics program please go to PNWathletics.com.
About Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW is recognized as the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana, a First Scholars institution and an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development. For more information, visit pnw.edu.
