Acrobatics and tumbling, stunt, Division II bowling and Division III women's wrestling will become NCAA championships, while flag football gained immediate emerging sport status. This represents the first time four championships have been added at one NCAA Convention.
"We are thrilled to add four new women's championships to the NCAA," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "This moment reflects the growth of college sports, as schools continue to provide a record number of scholarships and opportunities across the NCAA."
The additions come as NCAA membership has grown by more than 15,000 student-athletes across all three divisions in 2024-25, according to NCAA data. The organization awarded $4 billion in scholarships last year and recently eliminated limits on scholarships for upcoming seasons.
Acrobatics and tumbling and stunt will hold their inaugural championships in spring 2027. Division II bowling and Division III women's wrestling championships will begin in spring 2028.
Acrobatics and tumbling became an emerging sport in August 2020 and quickly grew from 27 schools to more than 40 by 2023-24. The sport features synchronized skills in events including acrobatics, pyramids, tosses, tumbling and team routines, with teams competing head-to-head.
Stunt, which transforms traditional cheerleading skills into a four-quarter competition format, crossed the 40-school threshold in its first year as an emerging sport across all three divisions. Teams compete in partner stunts, pyramids, jumps, tumbling and team routines.
