In a moment that she described as a dream come true, Ashlea Klam, a member of the United States National Women’s Flag Football team, awoke to the news that flag football would be included in the 2028 Olympics. After advocating for the sport’s high school sanctioning at a meeting the night prior in her home state of Texas, Klam said she felt a wave of excitement wash over her.
“I lost my mind,” Klam said. “It’s one thing to go play for Team USA but another to feel like the respect we have been asking in girls flag for so long has finally been given to us.”
In 2023, Klam was the youngest player on the U.S. Women’s National roster at 19. Despite her age, she forged strong bonds with her teammates, who share daily updates via text to foster a close-knit community that thrives on and off the field.
U.S. Women’s National quarterback Vanita Krouch once raised money to help Texas Fury, Klam’s club team owned and run by her parents, play in one of its first tournaments.
“Vanita Krouch has been a huge role model of mine and done so much for the sport,” Klam said “At the time, Fury wasn’t asking for people to pay to play on the team, so it was tough. Vanita knew that it was really hard and just decided to help out.”
According to the National Federation of State High Schools Associations, approximately 500,000 high school girls played flag football in 2023–a 63% increase from 2019. The surge in interest led the organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to propose the addition of flag football.
Unlike Klam, who’s been playing competitively since she was 7, Madison Fulford’s journey into flag football was serendipitous. Fulford only became aware of the opportunities in flag football after being discovered at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Within a year and a half, she starred in the finals of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) America’s Continental Championship where she scored all four touchdowns and helped the USA secure gold.
Fulford advocates for equal access to flag football for girls, emphasizing the need for standardized play formats across various levels of competition.
“I want girls to grow up knowing that they can strive for something in flag,” Fulford said. “I want to be the best player to ever play this game and be able to teach girls and have them see female representation.”
For Sarah Colchamiro and Alexandria Lofton, members of the U.S. U17 Girls Flag Football team, seizing opportunities is key. Colchamiro had once aspired to represent Team USA in gymnastics, but has since shifted her focus to flag football with sights set on making the Olympic roster.
Lofton is ranked as the number one wide receiver in girls high school flag football according to MaxPreps, but she only started playing in freshman year. Her commitment to the sport has opened doors for her, and she said she hopes to pave the way for future athletes.
“My goal is to serve as a role model with my mentality, passion, and letting my game speak for itself,” Lofton said.
Maci Joncich experienced rapid growth in her flag football career, transitioning from Team USA’s U15 to U17, and then onto the senior team the following year. Joncich opted for academic excellence over collegiate competition, choosing to attend the University of Florida for its strong academic program while participating in club flag football.
Like many in the sport, Joncich believes Olympic recognition will elevate flag football to the Division 1 level. As Joncich pursues her dream of becoming an Olympian and medical professional, she hopes to inspire the next generation of student-athletes.
“No matter how old you are, it matters how hard you work, and it matters how much you put yourself out there too,” Joncich said. “I really want to share my story and show that anyone can make a difference and a name for themselves.”
As the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California looms in the distance, interest levels for girls flag football are peaking. Now, for the first time, the ceiling is sky-high for the future.
