Cowboys, Texans join up to crown inaugural girls flag football state champion
The Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans are joining forces to crown the inaugural Texas high school girls flag football state champion.
The championship tournament will be held June 13 and 14 at DATCU Stadium at the University of North Texas in Denton. The event will bring together top teams from the Cowboys and Texans’ girls flag football leagues.
The Cowboys and Texas will each send four teams to the tournament. Saturday’s games will be pool games to determine seeding for Sunday’s playoff games. Those contests will determine winners from the Cowboys and Texans’ leagues who will face off Sunday afternoon for the state title.
The event will be free and open to the public in an effort to showcase flag football talent and to advocate for girls flag football to become a sanctioned high school sport in Texas. The NFL has been working to increase girls flag football participation, and according to the Cowboys, more than 500,000 girls ages 6-17 play across the U.S.
Over 200 programs exist across Texas.
“High school football is the heartbeat of Texas, and seeing more and more girls take the field through flag is a reminder that the game is bigger than any one team,” Dallas Cowboys chief brand officer and co-owner Charlotte Jones said in a statement. “Teaming up with the Texans for our state championship is about more than just crowning a winner, it’s about opening doors, celebrating talent, and growing football for a whole new generation of young women. The future of girls flag football is incredibly bright, and we are proud to be a part of a journey that is only just beginning to show its power.”
The Cowboys and Texans hope the event will build momentum toward the UIL sanctioning the sport.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Cowboys to host the first-ever girls flag state championship as we continue to work together to grow the game we love,” said Hannah McNair, the Houston Texans’ chief community officer and vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation. “When our high school girls take the field, it will be another shining example of the pathway we are building from youth participation to the pros in this sport. We know that football changes lives, and we are proud to inspire the next generation of female athletes and future leaders across the great state of Texas.”
The popularity of the sport is surging, with flag football set to debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics. In January, the NCAA added women’s flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program across Divisions I, II and III. Once the minimum sponsorship and criteria are met, the sport could be nearing an NCAA championship.
In the Fort Worth area, 25 schools are participating. Fort Worth ISD is spearheading the charge with 15 participating schools, while Arlington ISD has six members. LD Bell, Euless Trinity, North Crowley and Crowley also participate.
The Sports Business Journal recently reported that the Big 12 is exploring adding flag football as a varsity sport.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:18 AM.
.jpg)