Atlanta – September 11, 2026 -- MaxPreps and iFlag will stage the inaugural MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown Sept. 11-12, 2026, bringing 18 top-ranked girls' flag football programs and more than 350 student-athletes to the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in California.
Field pulls elite programs from California, Alabama and Montana
Teams were selected using national rankings, season performance and competitive resumes, with the roster including Central of Phenix City, Ala., JSerra Catholic, Huntington Beach and Newport Harbor. Four nationally ranked individual players are set to compete: No. 1 Makena Cook and No. 2 Ava Irwin of Sierra Canyon, No. 6 Tessa Russell of JSerra Catholic and No. 8 Savannah Sevier of Central of Alabama.
Participation in girls' flag football rose 60% year-over-year
According to the NFHS participation survey, 68,847 high school athletes played girls' flag football in the 2024-25 season, up 60% from the prior year. The number of schools offering the sport climbed from 1,777 to 2,736 over the same period.
MaxPreps and NFHS Network to simulcast games for free
Games from Fields 1 and 2 will be simulcast at no cost on MaxPreps and the NFHS Network. MaxPreps will supplement the broadcast with athlete spotlights, program profiles, live highlights, photography and behind-the-scenes content.
"The caliber of this field shows just how far girls' flag football has come," said B.J. Pilling, President of PlayOn Sports. "These athletes deserve a stage that matches their talent."
Spring East Coast Showdown confirmed for Tampa in 2027
Following the MaxPreps-iFlag partnership announced in April, a second event -- the Spring East Coast Flag Football Showdown -- is confirmed for Tampa, Florida, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 26-27, 2027.