San Diego Girls Rush Into Flag Football As Pro Dreams Hit The Field

High-school girls in San Diego are joining flag football in record numbers as the NCAA and NFL expand college and pro opportunities.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:58pm

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An abstract, energetic painting in neon colors depicting the dynamic movements and energy of girls playing flag football on a high school field, capturing the excitement and potential of the sport's growing popularity.The surge in girls' flag football participation in San Diego reflects growing opportunities for young athletes to pursue their football dreams at the high school, college, and professional levels.San Diego Today

The number of high school girls' flag-football teams in San Diego County has nearly doubled since 2023, when the sport was added to the state calendar. At least 65 colleges now sponsor club or varsity flag football programs, including San Diego State University. The NCAA has voted to add women's flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program, opening doors to scholarships and a path toward a national championship. The NFL has also announced a partnership to build a men's and women's professional flag football league, backed by all 32 NFL clubs and a broad group of investors and institutions.

Why it matters

The surge in girls' flag football participation in San Diego reflects a growing interest and opportunities in the sport at the high school, college, and professional levels. This trend could reshape how young athletes in the region think about their futures in football, as the path to college scholarships and potential professional careers becomes more visible.

The details

Local participation has exploded, with the number of high school girls' flag-football teams in San Diego County nearly doubling since 2023. Schools, clubs, and youth leagues have scrambled to expand rosters and hire more coaches, turning tryouts into real battles for roster spots. The college route became much clearer this year, with the NCAA voting to add women's flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program, opening doors to scholarships and putting the sport on a track toward official championship status. At the professional level, the NFL has announced a partnership to build a men's and women's professional flag football league, backed by all 32 NFL clubs and a broad group of investors and institutions.

  • In 2023, flag football was added to the state calendar in California.
  • In January 2026, the NCAA voted to add women's flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program.
  • In 2026, the NFL announced a partnership to build a men's and women's professional flag football league.

The players

NCAA

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, the organization that oversees college sports in the United States.

NFL

The National Football League, the professional American football league in the United States and Canada.

TMRW Sports

A company founded by Mike McCarley that is partnering with the NFL to build a men's and women's professional flag football league.

Roy Englebrecht

The founder of a separate Southern California women's pro flag football league that is delaying its full season debut to 2027.

San Diego State University

A public research university in San Diego, California that sponsors a flag football program.

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What they’re saying

“TMRW founder Mike McCarley pitched the project as creating a place where kids can aspire to play and where the athletes who will compete in the Olympics...can earn a living.”

— Mike McCarley, Founder, TMRW Sports

“A giant like the NFL planting a flag validated the instincts behind my original plan.”

— Roy Englebrecht, Founder, Southern California Women's Pro Flag Football League

What’s next

The next two years will be crucial in determining whether this new ladder of opportunities turns into a stable career path for San Diego's flag football players, as programs push to meet NCAA sponsorship thresholds and pro operators sort out their schedules and finances.

The takeaway

The surge in girls' flag football participation in San Diego, coupled with the expansion of college and professional opportunities, could significantly influence how young athletes in the region approach their sports careers, opening up new avenues for them to pursue their football dreams.