The Texas Girls Flag Football State Championship is taking place this weekend at the University of North Texas, where eight teams will compete for the title in a showcase that blends athletic competition with a broader mission of expanding opportunities for young female athletes.
A Milestone for Girls’ Sports
The event is co‑sponsored by the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, two franchises that have long championed community outreach and youth engagement. Their partnership underscores a shared commitment to making flag football a sanctioned high school sport in Texas, a goal that aligns with the NFL’s multi‑year effort to grow the game at the grassroots level.
Since 2016, the National Football League and its partners have worked to increase participation nationwide, and today more than 500,000 girls ages 6–17 play flag football across the United States. Seventeen state athletic associations already sanction the sport for varsity play, signaling a shift that could soon reach Texas in an official capacity.
Event Details and Community Impact
Pool play games were held on Saturday at the indoor training facility for the North Texas Mean Green, setting the stage for bracket play that began Sunday morning. The championship game for each division is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m., with the final matchup slated for 1:15 p.m. at DATCU Stadium, the home field of the University of North Texas.
Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Chief Brand Officer and co‑owner, emphasized the importance of the event in expanding opportunities for young female athletes. "We’re proud to partner with the Houston Texans to bring this championship to life," she said, highlighting the role of professional franchises in advocating for girls’ sports.
Hannah McNair, Houston Texans Chief Community Officer and vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation, added that the collaboration reflects a shared vision of growing the game and providing a platform for the next generation of female athletes to shine.
Beyond the competition, the championship serves as a catalyst for policy discussions at the state level, aiming to cement girls flag football as an official high school sport in Texas. If successful, the model could inspire similar initiatives across the country, reinforcing the NFL’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in athletics.