In the News

Penn Wood’s Samiah Knight secured a thrilling 12-7 win for the Eagles with a leaping touchdown catch in the Big 33 girls flag football championship at Chapman Field. The Eagles, led by quarterback Devin VanOsten and coach Tim Gwinnett, captured their second straight title in a hard-fought game against the Steelers. Coaches emphasized the sport’s rapid growth in Pennsylvania, calling for expanded participation beyond major cities.

The 2025 Steelers Girls Flag Football season concluded with Upper St. Clair defeating two-time champion Moon 12-0 to win the league’s fourth championship, held at Highmark Stadium and broadcasted on KDKA+. The season marked significant growth, expanding from 36 to 50 teams, and featured strong community support, including appearances by Steelers players and alumni. With the PIAA set to sanction girls flag football in 2025–26, the league celebrates its success and paves the way for even greater expansion.

Girls flag football is rapidly growing in Pennsylvania and is expected to become a sanctioned PIAA sport with official championships. Latrobe High School, supported by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ regional league, went 10-1 in its debut season and will join the WPIAL in 2025–26. The team was honored at the 2026 NFL Draft countdown clock unveiling for its strong performance. Coach Mackenzie Livingston praised the athletes’ quick growth and dedication to the sport.

The NFL and IFAF hosted a three-day flag football coaching and officiating clinic in Accra, Ghana, bringing together participants from 10 African countries to support the sport’s rapid growth across the continent. This initiative is part of a broader effort to expand flag football in Africa, with a focus on education, grassroots development, and preparation for the sport’s debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and The Mentoring Partnership, along with local sponsors, are launching the inaugural Steelers Girls' Flag All-Peer Team to recognize high school girls' flag football players who show strong mentorship and leadership. Seven standout athletes will be selected—one per week during the season—to receive a $1,000 donation for their school’s athletic program and attend a special event with Steelers players. Nominations are open now and only need to be submitted once for the entire 7-week period.

On Saturday, 3/29/25, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted a landmark event at Saint Vincent College, bringing together six high schools and seven colleges to kick off the 2025 Girls' Flag Football season. Since establishing local girls' flag football programs in 2022, the Steelers have invested over $250,000 to support the sport's growth. Participation has surged from six high schools to over 50 teams this season, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has sanctioned girls' flag football as an official sport, with more than 100 high school teams set to compete statewide. The sport is also expanding at the collegiate level, exemplified by players like Eve Majewski, who co-founded the women's flag football team at the University of Pittsburgh.

​Girls' flag football is rapidly gaining traction in Pennsylvania, with 50 area high schools participating this spring under the coordination of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The sport is set to become PIAA-sanctioned in the upcoming school year, making Pennsylvania the 13th state to officially recognize it at the high school level. Beyond high school, over 65 NCAA colleges now sponsor women's flag football at club or varsity levels.

Girls' flag football is rapidly gaining popularity, with 50 area high schools, coordinated by the Pittsburgh Steelers, participating this spring. The sport will become PIAA-sanctioned next school year, making Pennsylvania the 13th state to adopt it as an official high school sport. Beyond high school, at least 65 NCAA colleges are sponsoring women's flag football at the club or varsity levels, and the sport is set to debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The Eagles Girls Flag Football League crowned Archbishop Wood as Pennsylvania champions and Kingsway Regional as New Jersey champions during a high-energy event at the NovaCare Complex. Eagles players like A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts supported the games, reflecting the sport's rapid growth from 16 to 92 teams since 2022. As interest rises, with potential scholarships and Olympic opportunities ahead, the league continues expanding and inspiring young female athletes in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Through joint efforts, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles successfully grew girls' flag football in Pennsylvania, meeting the PIAA’s 100-team requirement for state sanctioning in 2023. Supported by sponsors like Nike and the NFL Foundation, the teams provided equipment, clinics, and events, helping establish the sport across the state.

The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association approved the first girls Flag Football tournaments on Friday. According to the NFL, high school age girls flag teams representing the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Raves, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders will be able to compete in the first ever girls Flag Football Big 33 Championship.

For the second consecutive year, Moon (13-0) and North Allegheny (13-1) squared off in the championship game. Once again, No. 1 seed Moon came away victorious 32-6.

"Becoming a state-sanctioned sport is really the next step, especially with how fast it's grown,"

With girls flag football an official Olympic sport for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, and girls flag football taking off in 2023 in Pennsylvania, the PIAA made the decision to approve the first reading by that 30-0 vote.

Girls flag football achieved emerging status last July by reaching 25 schools statewide. At the start of the spring season, more than 100 schools were fielding girls flag football teams.