Carrollton Newman Smith’s Rylei Wells (28), left, sprints away from a host of Rockwall Heath defenders for a first down during the second half of their game. Heath defeated Newman Smith. Day 1 of the girls high school flag football championship tournament was held at the University of North Texas DATCU Stadium in Denton on June 13, 2026.
Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning News
DENTON – Four months ago, Olivia Richard never played football competitively; now she’s an integral piece of a 25-0 girls flag football team, competing for a state championship title no one has won before.
Saturday marked the beginning of the first-ever Girls Flag Football Texas State Championship at the University of North Texas. Eight high schools from across the Lone Star State traveled for the two-day tournament, hosted by the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans.
“I would’ve probably been surprised to be down here,” Richard said on competing for a state title. “It’s taken a lot of effort and a lot of work, but it all comes down to who wants it most.”
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Richard lines up under center for Rockwall-Heath High School, but as the position requires in flag football, she doubles as a receiver downfield. The sophomore caught numerous touchdown passes on Saturday and celebrated in style, stretching her arms out as she crossed the plane.
Very few of the Hawks’ players had previously played flag football until this season. A large chunk of their roster is also on the school’s basketball team, so when the opportunity arose in the spring, they all decided to give the gridiron a try.
“We kind of just do everything together,” Richard said regarding her teammates in football and basketball. “It’s like sisterhood. We’re building each other up all the time, and it’s a great experience. I’ve never done anything like it. I’m so glad we have the blessing of such a great opportunity.”
According to Ysleta Independent School District Athletic Director Martin Segovia, a majority of the girls who are currently paving the way for flag football in Texas also participate in other sports.
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Segovia’s region in El Paso holds 32 high school girls flag football programs. The two district winners, Eastwood High School and El Dorado High School, traveled over 10 hours by bus on Friday to take part in the state championship.
Although girls’ flag football is not yet a sanctioned sport by the University Interscholastic League, Texas’s marquee NFL teams have taken the reins of establishing a competitive format for over 220 high schools from across the state to partake.
“I don’t know when, but it’ll be a UIL sport in the high schools one day,” Patrick Longstreet, the Pasadena Independent School District Athletic Director, said. “But it is right now, too. I think all of these schools have coaches who work at their schools, and they work in their communities.”
Longstreet traveled to watch high schools from the Houston Metro area compete on Saturday, including Southern Houston, where its girls sported headbands that read ‘she’s next’ on their foreheads.
Longstreet and Pasadena ISD worried about community interest before the 2026 season began, but in the sport’s first year, a dozen schools from the district fielded teams, some of which included junior varsity and freshman rosters.
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“Anytime you see Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, female [or] male, it doesn’t matter, everybody gets excited. So the attention was there from the start,” Longstreet said. “The Texans have been phenomenal down there in the Houston area in fostering and pushing the game; it’s great to see. These girls can play.”
Diving catches, physical jump balls, and deep throws downfield were commonplace during Saturday’s action, and the quality of play mirrored a sport that’s been established over the course of decades. Girls’ flag football in Texas is on pace to be the next big thing.
“I have parents reaching out, asking how their kids can join,” Richard said. “It feels great, and I’m really glad that other girls are going to get the same opportunity that I get.”