Girls Flag Football is Now a Sanctioned Sport in D.C.

Last Sunday, girls flag football was announced as a sanctioned high school sport in Washington, D.C.[1] Girl’s flag football has grown throughout the years with more schools adding it as a club.[2] Now with it becoming a sanctioned sport in D.C., it will receive more public support, funding, space, and resources from schools.[3]

This means that girls flag football leagues can “unify under one state umbrella,” and teams can compete for an official playoff state championship.[4] Eastern Senior High School girls flag football coach Dajuan Greene stated, “’now everything the men are doing the women are doing as well.’”[5] This is great news for girls in sports, and will encourage more sport participation.

Many people and organizations have helped make this possible. Former football player for the D.C. Divas and current team vice president, Lois Cook, has been dedicated to teaching girls the sport.[6] Advocates like Cook, student-athletes, coaches, and schools have supported this milestone.[7] The Washington Commanders also invested seven figures, donated resources, and hosted clinics and trainings to try and expand girls flag football.[8]

Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil told the teams that they are “’inspiring the next generation.’”[9] He said, ‘”you guys will be the ones that the younger girls, like my daughters, will be looking up to one day . . . you’re doing it for the ones beneath you and the ones that are coming after them.’”[10]

Several high schools have fewer funding for girls’ sports compared to boys.[11] I am hoping with this milestone in the news, advocates will continue to raise awareness for more funding and resources for girls in sports, and it will be achieved.

[1] Hannah Lichtenstein, “It’s getting to where it needs to be”: Sanctioning decision takes D.C. girls flag football to new level, Commanders (Apr. 27, 2026) https://www.commanders.com/news/it-s-getting-to-where-it-needs-to-be-sanctioning-decision-takes-d-c-girls-flag-football-to-new-level.

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

[11] Peg Pennepacker, Sports Participation Barriers for Girls – Challenges and Solutions, NFHS (Jan. 13, 2026) https://nfhs.org/stories/sports-participation-barriers-for-girls-challenges-and-solutions.

Featured Image: Cody Heaster, High school girls’ flag football expanding across South Mississippi in second season, WLOX (Mar. 2, 2026) https://www.wlox.com/2026/03/03/high-school-girls-flag-football-expanding-across-south-mississippi-second-season/.