Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Akiko Higa across Football.
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.
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.