Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Akemi Higa across Football.
The United States men’s flag football squad secured its sixth consecutive world championship in Düsseldorf, ending a long‑standing drought, while the women’s side saw a new champion emerge after a loss to Canada. With Olympic qualification on the horizon, the landscape is shifting for 2028.
Seventeen‑year‑old athletes from Nevada State University will don the U.S. jersey at the IFAF World Championship, showcasing the growing prominence of flag football and the state’s developing sports pipeline.
Two Nevada State University players and their offensive coordinator are set to compete in the International Federation of American Football World Championship in Germany, showcasing the growth of women’s flag football.
Laneah Bryan, a standout athlete from El Paso, has been selected for the U.S. Women’s National Team that will compete in the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Düsseldorf, Germany, an event that precedes the sport’s Olympic debut in 2028.
A statistical shift shows the average age of the women’s side has slipped by nearly two years over the past three seasons, with a roster now dotted with teenagers who are still in high school.
The U.S. women's and men's flag football squads are seeing a dramatic age drop, with teenage stars like Akemi Higa leading the charge as the sport inches toward NCAA recognition
At 17, Akemi Higa is poised to represent Team USA at the IFAF flag football world championships in Düsseldorf, part of a broader surge in youth participation and investment in women's flag football.
A new wave of teenage talent is reshaping U.S. flag football, highlighted by Akemi Higa’s rise, record participation gains, and upcoming world championships.
The U.S. women's flag football team is experiencing a decisive age shift as it readies for the world championships, with teenage players like Akemi Higa and Maci Joncich leading a wave of growth supported by the NFL, Mark Cuban and Aaron Rodgers.
Teenagers Akemi Higa and Maci Joncich headline a youthful infusion that is reshaping the U.S. flag football program as it eyes Olympic debut in 2028.
A youthful infusion is reshaping the U.S. women’s flag football team as it prepares for the world championships in Duesseldorf, with high school stars vying for Olympic‑bound experience.
A new generation of American flag football players is reshaping the sport, driven by record participation, strategic investments and a push toward Olympic inclusion.
The U.S. women’s flag football squad is undergoing a youthful transformation as it prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with high school participation soaring and NFL backing driving the momentum.
A 17‑year‑old quarterback leads a new wave of talent as the sport eyes Olympic status
A new generation of players, highlighted by 17‑year‑old Akemi Higa, is driving a marked drop in the average age of the U.S. women’s flag football team, preparing for the IFAF world championships in Germany and the sport’s Olympic introduction in 2028.