MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mount Mary University is adding women's flag football as a varsity sport. 

The inaugural season will kick off in the spring of next year. 

Mount Mary is the first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member in our state to offer women's flag football with athletic scholarships. 

“I see the addition of women’s flag football at Mount Mary as an opportunity to empower young women and provide them a platform to build confidence and leadership within a diverse setting,” said Natalie Balleto, Director of Athletics. “Mount Mary recognizes the growing passion for this sport, and we are excited to be the first NAIA university in Wisconsin to offer athletic scholarships for flag football.”

The Milwaukee university is conducting a national search for staffing.