Seattle Seahawks Support Launch of High School Girls Flag Football Teams in Washington

The Seattle Seahawks are leading the charge in promoting girls flag football in Washington state, with the announcement of $24,000 in grant funding to support the launch of new high school girls flag football teams. This initiative aims to provide more opportunities for female athletes to participate in the sport and potentially make girls flag football an official state-sanctioned high school sport.

Since 2021, the Seahawks have donated over $324,000 in grant funding to help establish girls flag football teams in more than 80 high schools across the state. The latest districts and schools to receive grant funding include Issaquah and Bellingham School Districts, as well as Wenatchee, Cedarcrest, Kingston, and Othello High Schools.

Mario Bailey, Seahawks Vice President of Community Engagement and Legends, expressed excitement about the growth of girls flag football programs in the region. He emphasized the importance of providing equitable opportunities for girls to play flag football at the highest level.

The push to sanction girls flag football in Washington state will come to a vote in May among the members of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Representative Assembly. If approved, girls flag football would become the first newly-sanctioned sport in the state in six years, opening the door for teams to compete in an official state championship tournament.

The momentum for flag football is not just limited to Washington state, as female participation in NFL FLAG leagues has been on the rise globally. With the sport set to make its debut as an official Olympic sport at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the future looks bright for girls flag football.

Schools interested in launching girls flag programs can connect with the Seahawks about future grant opportunities, as the team continues to support the growth of girls flag football across the state.