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USA flag football star Isabella Geraci highlights the sport's growth, fueled by advocacy from Vikings' Justin Jefferson. Flag football will debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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USA flag football star details advocacy for sport from Vikings' Justin Jefferson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Recent statistics and reporting surrounding women's sports have shown huge increases in both viewership numbers and ticket sales â indicating significant momentum for a variety of women's sports across the United States.
For instance, Forbes has stated that as of 2026 women's college basketball viewership has grown 33% year over year. In addition, the Professional Women's hockey League (PWHL) recently made history in April by surpassing one million fans in a single season for the first time. In addition, USA flag football star and wide receiver Isabella Geraci said to The Sporting News that this growth of women's sports has also hit the flag football world.
"Personally, for me, I just want to continue to grow the sport, and play at the highest level and compete, because that's truly what I love to do ... It's cool to be on this whole uproar of women's sports and just be a part of that. I'm really excited to see where it's going."
Flag football will also be making its official debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Las Angeles, Calif., paving the way for flag football and USA Footballâs U.S. National Teams to make their Olympic debut on home soil.
However, the upcoming Summer Olympics are not the only aspect increasing discussion surrounding the sport of flag football.
Fellow wide receiver Justin Jefferson â of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings â is also the NFL flag football ambassador. Jefferson recently collaborated with Geraci on a commercial for U.S. Bank aiming to support the growth of the game at a variety of levels.
Jefferson concluded the 2025 season with 84 receptions for 1,048 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Justin Jefferson's advocacy raises awareness and support for flag football, contributing to its growth and visibility in women's sports.
Women's college basketball viewership has increased by 33% year over year, reflecting a broader trend of rising interest in women's sports.
Flag football will make its official debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, marking a significant milestone for the sport.
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Geraci said that she has enjoyed working with Jefferson and learning how much he advocates for the growth of flag football.
"To know that Justin is really involved in growing the sport of football, especially flag football, it makes me super happy," said Geraci. "We appreciate all the support, but especially from someone like him, who has such a large platform and such a large following, and he's such a wonderful person outside of being an amazing receiver."
Geraci is known as one of the biggest faces in her sport and successfully tried out for the United States National Team in March of 2024. Jefferson and Geraci also connected on playing the same position of wide receiver across the sport of football as a whole.
"Our dynamic was great. I felt like we were kind of just playing off of each other, and it felt super natural," Geraci also said on connecting position wise with Jefferson.
With flag football set to debut on the Olympic stage, Geraci represents the next generation of football stars, with current NFL players such as Jefferson already behind her.