The Golden State Storm, Northern California’s newest professional women’s football team, is highlighting high school girls’ flag football to inspire the next generation of athletes.”This has opened the door for them to actually be able to show off their skill, their speed, their agility, and really just be rock stars out there,” said Nichelle Haynes, a parent.The Vanden Vikings girls’ flag football team, formed last year, is one of the teams benefiting from this initiative. Players have expressed excitement about the camaraderie and teamwork they experience.”It’s fun. There’s a lot of team chemistry. We’ve all been friends before we even got on the team. So like, if we play as a team, we’re going to win as a team,” said Makenna Holloway, a player for Vanden High School.Parents like Nichelle are thrilled about the opportunities now available for girls interested in flag football. “I mean, I’m super excited about all the opportunities that they have now for the girls playing flag football. So, I mean, it’s about time, right? Because so many women have always had an interest in football. We just never had an entryway,” said Haynes.The Storm is hosting its first-ever Golden State Showdown matchup, featuring Vanden and Rocklin high schools, to provide accessibility and showcase what the professional space can look like. The team aims to encourage players to continue the sport at the collegiate level and beyond.”This is more so for us to really just focus on providing accessibility and showing them what the professional space can look like. Obviously, the sport is growing at the collegiate level, so we want them to continue that in the collegiate level, and after that, there will be a professional space for them to play,” said Guppy Uppal, a team representative.Players and parents are hopeful for the future of the sport. “I want to go to college to do this and play professionally,” said Holloway. Haynes added, “With this coming, this has opened up a lot of doors for a lot of girls who have never thought about competing on the next level when it comes to sports.”The outreach program is just the beginning of what the professional team has planned. Over the next eight weeks, the team will travel across Northern California to build connections with high school flag programs and shine a spotlight on local talent.”This is the opportunity for us to really go out there and build our touch point with the girls’ high school flag programs across the Northern California region, but also amplify the talent that is that currently exists here,” said a team representative.The Golden State Storm will highlight 24 matches this fall across the Sacramento and San Joaquin regions, all in hopes of growing flag football in Northern California.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
FAIRFIELD, Calif. —
The Golden State Storm, Northern California’s newest professional women’s football team, is highlighting high school girls’ flag football to inspire the next generation of athletes.
“This has opened the door for them to actually be able to show off their skill, their speed, their agility, and really just be rock stars out there,” said Nichelle Haynes, a parent.
The Vanden Vikings girls’ flag football team, formed last year, is one of the teams benefiting from this initiative. Players have expressed excitement about the camaraderie and teamwork they experience.
“It’s fun. There’s a lot of team chemistry. We’ve all been friends before we even got on the team. So like, if we play as a team, we’re going to win as a team,” said Makenna Holloway, a player for Vanden High School.
Parents like Nichelle are thrilled about the opportunities now available for girls interested in flag football.
“I mean, I’m super excited about all the opportunities that they have now for the girls playing flag football. So, I mean, it’s about time, right? Because so many women have always had an interest in football. We just never had an entryway,” said Haynes.
The Storm is hosting its first-ever Golden State Showdown matchup, featuring Vanden and Rocklin high schools, to provide accessibility and showcase what the professional space can look like. The team aims to encourage players to continue the sport at the collegiate level and beyond.
“This is more so for us to really just focus on providing accessibility and showing them what the professional space can look like. Obviously, the sport is growing at the collegiate level, so we want them to continue that in the collegiate level, and after that, there will be a professional space for them to play,” said Guppy Uppal, a team representative.
Players and parents are hopeful for the future of the sport.
“I want to go to college to do this and play professionally,” said Holloway.
Haynes added, “With this coming, this has opened up a lot of doors for a lot of girls who have never thought about competing on the next level when it comes to sports.”
The outreach program is just the beginning of what the professional team has planned. Over the next eight weeks, the team will travel across Northern California to build connections with high school flag programs and shine a spotlight on local talent.
“This is the opportunity for us to really go out there and build our touch point with the girls’ high school flag programs across the Northern California region, but also amplify the talent that is that currently exists here,” said a team representative.
The Golden State Storm will highlight 24 matches this fall across the Sacramento and San Joaquin regions, all in hopes of growing flag football in Northern California.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel