Seattle Seahawks Celebrate Official Sanctioning of Girls Flag Football in Washington State

Washington becomes 15th state to sanction girls flag as an official high school sport

Apr 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM

Seahawks.com

RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks are celebrating girls flag football as the newest state-sanctioned high school sport in Washington, an effort the team has championed since 2021. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) announced the official news today.

"The Seahawks are thrilled with the announcement by the WIAA. This is a historic moment for our state and an exciting milestone for all the girls flag athletes in our region who now have the opportunity to play at the highest level," said Chuck Arnold, President of the Seahawks and First & Goal Inc.

Washington is now the 15^th state to sanction girls flag, which opens the door for the teams to play in an official state championship tournament. Since 2021, the Seahawks have committed to support girls flag programs, including more than $381,000 in grant funding to help launch more than 100 girls flag high school teams across Washington. The Seahawks recently announced another $200,000 commitment of grant awards for 2025, which will bring the team's total donations to over $500,000.

"We believe that everyone should have the access and opportunity to play football, and the momentum we've seen for girls flag has been incredible," said Mario Bailey, Seahawks Vice President of Community Engagement & Legends. "Sanctioning girls flag is an amazing step in giving these girls a new avenue to pursue playing flag football in college and beyond."

Seahawks grants have gone toward funding girls flag teams within Tacoma and Seattle Public Schools, Bellevue, Northshore, Auburn, Renton, Puyallup, Mercer Island, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, and more. Last season, the team unveiled a girls flag wall at Lumen Field titled "The Future of Football is Female," with flags representing each of the high schools with girls flag teams.

High school girls flag football is on the rise with the sport expanding at an unprecedented rate. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in 2023 that flag football would debut as part of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. This spring, women's flag football will be offered in almost 60 colleges and universities across the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.

"As we continue our mission toward high school girls flag being offered in all 50 states, we are thrilled that Washington is the 15^th state to officially sanction the sport," said Stephanie Kwok, Vice President and Head of Flag Football at the National Football League. "The incredible support from the Seattle Seahawks, coupled with the increase in participation nationwide, played an important role in moving this forward for more girls to compete in high school with the opportunity to play in college and potentially represent their country in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games."

The sanctioning of girls flag football in Washington marks another significant milestone for the sport and underscores the incredible work happening at the grassroots level," said Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports. "RCX Sports, the official operator of NFL FLAG, is dedicated to expanding access and opportunities for young athletes alongside the NFL and its Clubs, ensuring girls can compete, develop, and thrive in the game they love. As momentum continues to build nationwide, we know more opportunities will arise to meet the growing demand for girls flag."

For more information, resources, and upcoming events, check out: https://www.seahawks.com/community/future-of-football/flag-football/girls-flag/

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The Seahawks hosted a High School Girls Flag Football camp on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Castle High School ahead of the inaugural Hawaii High School Girls Flag Football season. Photos by Abe McAulton and Taisetsu Photography.

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