The District of Columbia has officially sanctioned girls flag football as a high school sport, becoming the 20th state to do so. This decision follows recent approvals in Kansas and Maryland, with expanded participation expected by 2026.
Mentioned in this story
Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
The District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCSAA) will be adding another state championship sport, adding to the recent number of states approving girls flag football on the high school level.
According to an announcement via the NFLās Washington Commandersā football team on social media, girls flag football has been approved as a state sanctioned sport, making the District of Columbia the 20th to do so after Kansas and Maryland just announced doing so last week. The Commanders released a statement via their team website about the official sanctioning of girls flag football.
āGirls flag football is now an officially sanctioned high school sport in Maryland and D.C.! We are proud to support the expansion of this sport through monetary contributions and equipment, resources and trainings. Our commitment to creating equitable access to participation and a sustainable pathway to program success continues, with expanded school participation coming in 2026,ā the statement said regarding girls flag football being sanctioned in Washington D.C.
Late last week, the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA)Ā announced on Friday afternoon via a press releaseĀ that the association approved girls flag football as the stateās 26th sanctioned state championship sport. Earlier that same day, Kansas approved girls flag football, becoming the 18th state to sanction the sport with Maryland being the 19th, respectively.
Below is the full list of the 20 states around the United States that officially sanction girls flag football as a high school state championship sport:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
Maryland
Mississippi
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Washington
Participation in girls flag football has seen major increases, jumping to nearly 69,000 participants in the 2024-25 school year, per NFHS Network data, and itās rapidly emerging as an official varsity sport in numerous states, with more than a dozen already sanctioning it and others running pilot programs or preparing to join.
Kansas and Maryland have recently approved girls flag football as a sanctioned sport, along with the District of Columbia.
Expanded participation in girls flag football in Washington D.C. is expected to begin in 2026.
The District of Columbia is the 20th state to officially sanction girls flag football as a high school sport.
Jamie Carragher and Martin Brundle preview Sky Sports' Big Weekend, highlighting key events including Premier League matches, the Miami GP, Women's Super League, Madrid Open tennis, and PGA Tour golf.
J'Mari Taylor of UVA signs with the Jaguars after going undrafted
Arsenal in talks to sign Maxi Araujo, defender with Ā£69m release clause.
Jaylen Brown calls Baylor Scheierman 'Big Shot Bob' for clutch shooting!
Final results of the Jaguars-Raiders trade for Jakobi Meyers
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
For District of Columbia high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with theĀ Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across Washington D.C., ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across District of Columbia.