Cowboys, Texans Join Forces for Inaugural Texas Girls Flag Football State Championship

The championship tournament will showcase top teams from the two NFL teams' girls flag football leagues.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:18pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a girls flag football game, with the players' movements and the ball's trajectory broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of the Cowboys and Texans.The inaugural Texas girls flag football state championship will showcase the sport's rising talent and advocate for its sanctioning as a high school varsity competition.Dallas Today

The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans are teaming up to host the inaugural Texas high school girls flag football state championship tournament on June 13-14 at the University of North Texas in Denton. The free, public event aims to showcase the growing talent in girls flag football and advocate for the sport to become a sanctioned high school sport in Texas.

Why it matters

Girls flag football participation has been surging across Texas, with over 200 programs existing statewide. The Cowboys and Texans' partnership to host this championship tournament is part of a broader effort by the NFL to increase girls' involvement in the sport, which is set to debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics. Sanctioning flag football as a high school sport in Texas could open up more opportunities for young female athletes.

The details

The championship tournament will bring together top teams from the Cowboys and Texans' respective girls flag football leagues. Over 200 programs exist across Texas, and in the Fort Worth area alone, 25 schools are participating, with Fort Worth ISD leading the charge with 15 participating schools. The event is free and open to the public as part of the effort to showcase the talent and advocate for flag football to become a sanctioned high school sport in Texas.

  • The championship tournament will be held on June 13-14, 2026.
  • In January 2026, the NCAA added women's flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program across Divisions I, II and III.

The players

Dallas Cowboys

An NFL team based in Dallas, Texas, and one of the organizers of the inaugural Texas girls flag football state championship tournament.

Houston Texans

An NFL team based in Houston, Texas, and one of the organizers of the inaugural Texas girls flag football state championship tournament.

University of North Texas

The host venue for the inaugural Texas girls flag football state championship tournament, located in Denton, Texas.

Charlotte Jones

The Dallas Cowboys' chief brand officer and co-owner, who expressed the team's excitement to be part of the journey to grow girls flag football in Texas.

Hannah McNair

The Houston Texans' chief community officer and vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation, who spoke about the team's partnership with the Cowboys to host the championship.

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What they’re saying

“High school football is the heartbeat of Texas, and seeing more and more girls take the field through flag is a reminder that the game is bigger than any one team. Teaming up with the Texans for our state championship is about more than just crowning a winner, it's about opening doors, celebrating talent, and growing football for a whole new generation of young women. The future of girls flag football is incredibly bright, and we are proud to be a part of a journey that is only just beginning to show its power.”

— Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys chief brand officer and co-owner

“We are thrilled to partner with the Cowboys to host the first-ever girls flag state championship as we continue to work together to grow the game we love. When our high school girls take the field, it will be another shining example of the pathway we are building from youth participation to the pros in this sport. We know that football changes lives, and we are proud to inspire the next generation of female athletes and future leaders across the great state of Texas.”

— Hannah McNair, Houston Texans' chief community officer and vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation

What’s next

The Cowboys and Texans hope the event will build momentum toward the UIL (University Interscholastic League) sanctioning girls flag football as a high school sport in Texas.

The takeaway

The inaugural Texas girls flag football state championship tournament hosted by the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans represents a significant step in growing the sport at the high school level. With surging participation across the state and flag football's upcoming debut in the 2028 Olympics, this event could pave the way for flag football to become a sanctioned high school sport in Texas, opening up more opportunities for young female athletes.