World Flag Series Launching This July
World Flag Series has announced WFS1, the first professional women’s flag football event of its kind. WFS1 will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Suncoast Credit Union Stadium in Tampa, Florida. WFS1 will be played in the 5-on-5 format, which aligns with the international and Olympic format.
WFS1 will feature 30 elite athletes from 10 countries on three teams, including current and former collegiate women's flag football players. The initial list of athletes has a trio of women's flag football athletes representing the United States:
- Emma Clark, currently at the University of Central Florida.
- Lauren Clark, formerly at Warner University (FL) and an assistant coach at Indiana Wesleyan University.
- Rylen Bourguet, currently at Arizona State University.
Agustina Torres (Argentina), Alejandra Juárez (México), Anja Kreitczick (Germany), Julia Abbrederis (Austria), Louisa Ajayi (France), and Tori Brito (Dominican Republic) will also compete at WFS1. Additional athletes will be announced in the coming weeks and all athletes competing in WFS1 will be compensated.
World Flag Series was founded by Phil Cutler, head coach of McGill University's flag football program in Canada. Cutler competed for a spot on Canada's men's national flag football team earlier this spring. Here's what Cutler had to say about WFS1:
"The World Flag Series is about creating a memorable fan experience for a generation of fans who have grown up playing flag football. WFS1 is being built as a professional stage for the athletes, the fans, and the future of the sport. Women’s flag football has elite players, international momentum, and incredible stories. Now it needs events that present those athletes the way they deserve to be presented.”
“Flag football is entering a new era. The growth of the sport is real, but the professional opportunity is still being shaped. After 20 years in flag football, I’ve seen firsthand how much the game has grown. WFS1 is our first step toward building something that can grow with the game and give the best women’s flag football players in the world a platform that matches their talent.”
The World Flag Series is designed around elite competition, athlete storytelling, broadcast presentation, and premium fan experience. Additional athletes, broadcast details, partners, and fan experiences for WFS1 will be announced in the run-up to the inaugural event on July 25. More information and announcements can be found at the World Flag Series website.