Akemi Higa first laced up a flag football jersey at five, growing up in the islands before moving to Las Vegas with her twin sister Akiko in 2022. Now a sophomore quarterback, she is chasing a spot on the U.S. women’s national team that will compete in the International Federation of American Football flag football world championships in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The campaign reflects a generational shift in the sport. The average age of the women’s camp has dropped to 26, nearly two years younger than three seasons ago, while the men’s average age fell from 29.4 in 2024 to 28.6 this year. Over 68,800 girls played high school flag football in 2024, a 60 percent jump from the previous year, signaling a rapid expansion of participation.
A New Generation Takes the Field
Investment from philanthropists such as Mark Cuban and Aaron Rodgers has helped USA Football broaden its reach, and the organization recently signed receiver/quarterback Maci Joncich, a 20‑year‑old Cal Poly commit. Meanwhile, Jorge Cascudo Jr. and his teammate Justin McMullen, both 21, are battling for a place on the men’s roster, where veteran quarterback Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, 36, remains the oldest player.
Behind the scenes, Jorge Cascudo Sr., a flag‑football legend turned coach, guides the men’s national side, while alumni like Vanita Krouch and Valentina Fanetti continue to shape the program’s future. The sport’s momentum is such that women’s flag football is on track to achieve NCAA championship status, potentially paving a path toward Olympic inclusion for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
For Higa and her peers, the road to Düsseldorf is more than a tournament; it is a stepping stone toward a broader cultural shift that could see flag football become a staple of American sports culture and an Olympic event within the next decade.