Flag Football Heads to Halas Hall for Inaugural Contest

Titans open against the College of Dupage

3/6/2026 4:00:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- The Illinois Wesleyan University flag football team takes the field for the first time, opening its inaugural 2026 slate against the College of Dupage, Sunday, March 8 at 8:30 a.m. The Titans will take on either Benedictine University or Illinois College on Sunday afternoon. All games will be played at the Walter Payton Center at Halas Hall, the headquarters of the Chicago Bears.

Head Coach Melissa Valenzuela brings in a roster that consists of 19 freshmen and one junior. Valenzuela is assisted by former IWU multi-sport athlete, Kelly Carlson and Andrae Rimmer Sr.

The Titans are one of eight collegiate flag football teams in the state of Illinois. The NCAA announced in January that flag football was added as an Emerging Sports for Women, expediting the process for flag football to earn NCAA championship status.

IWU opens with a nine-game road trip before returning to Bloomington for their home opener, March 28 in a triangular against Benedictine and Illinois College.

Action from Halas Hall is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Live coverage will be linked to the flag football page on iwusports.com.

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