Arizona Christian University College Featured Ottawa University Preps Women In Sports

Arizona Primed to Lead Flag Football’s Collegiate Emergence

Photo by Shannon Liebrock Photography

Arizona is stepping onto the national stage in the fastest-growing sport in America: women’s flag football.

The Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) announced that three Arizona schools will join the collegiate flag football stage in spring 2026 as part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Arizona Christian University, Benedictine University Mesa, and Ottawa University AZ will become Arizona’s first colleges officially sanctioned to compete in flag football with the opportunity to battle for a national collegiate championship.

Flag Football’s Rapid Rise in Arizona High Schools

Arizona is one of just 12 states to sanction high school state championships for girls’ flag football through the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS). Fall 2024 marked the third season of flag football through the Arizona Interscholastic Association, as 101 high schools played across three conferences. The AIA lists four conferences with a combined 136 schools set to play flag football in fall 2025 – nearly equal to the 137 schools with a boys’ volleyball team.

Not only has the fastest-growing sport in America spread like wildfire across the state, but Arizona’s talent is already among the best in the nation.

After their undefeated championship season in fall, Hamilton was invited to play seven fellow state champions from across the nation in Canton, OH. Mountain Pointe’s Moriah Green was tied for the most receiving yards per game in the nation last fall. Among schools nationally that played during the fall season, Marana’s Nami Singer was top five in sacks while Millennium’s Breana Saunders was one of few to average 300 total yards per game.

“Arizona is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in the growth of women’s flag football nationally, and our in-state athletes are at the heart of that movement,” said Arizona Christian head flag football coach, Michael Maccagnano. “We’ve already seen tremendous talent emerge from Arizona — athletes who are now making significant contributions at top NAIA programs across the country. That speaks volumes about the level of skill, work ethic, and passion coming out of this state.”

Building Programs and Opportunity

“This inaugural year in Arizona is all about putting our athletes on the map,” said Ottawa head flag football coach, Marino Lee. “We’re focused on letting our play speak for itself and showing the region — and the nation — what OUAZ flag football is all about. This is just the beginning, and we believe it’s going to be something special.”

Lee is set to lead Surprise-based Ottawa University into flag football as a Scottsdale native and Saguaro alum. For 11 years, Lee has been active throughout the sport and coached flag football across multiple levels.

“The growth of high school and club flag football in Arizona has been incredible,” said Lee. “We believe the future is bright, and our goal is for the best Arizona girls to see OUAZ as the obvious next step in their football journey.”

From the Ottawa Spirit in Surprise to Benedictine University in Mesa, college flag football will be available across the state. BenU Mesa will play its season on the campus of Mesa High School next spring. A three-year head flag football coach at Gilbert High School, Brian Winstead will lead the Redhawks onto the gridiron with aspirations far beyond the scoreboard.

“As competitive as I am and wanting to win, my goals are much bigger. Develop a culture within our team (family) and creating years of success,” said Winstead. “My goals are to keep the incredible talent Arizona has in AZ, showcase how great women’s flag is in AZ, and give them a chance to play and not go into debt.”

Glendale-based Arizona Christian will play on campus on their turf field. The Firestorm will feature a 20-player roster including local athletes from Millennium High School, Xavier College Prep, Liberty High School, and Leading Edge Academy. Maccagnano saw his own daughter, CC, perform as one of the best athletes in the state before graduating in 2024. 

“Success in year one goes far beyond wins and losses, it’s about laying a strong foundation and setting a clear vision for what college flag football can become in Arizona,” said Maccagnano. “By providing a high-level collegiate opportunity right here in Arizona, we’re giving these athletes the chance to play in front of their friends, families, and communities while being part of something groundbreaking. When local players succeed at the collegiate level here, it not only elevates their own careers but also inspires the next generation of athletes and brings greater visibility to the sport across the region.”

Scholarships and Retaining Arizona Talent

Teams will be comprised of around 20 players for the Arizona schools. This won’t be just a way for athletes to keep playing a sport they love, it will also be an opportunity to earn college scholarships. And of course, programs will be competing for those scholarship dollars to pursue the best athletes in the state.

“We have a scholarship that if you live in Mesa you can potentially have tuition covered,” said Winstead. “We have signed many local athletes and brought athletes back to AZ through the transfer portal.”

Multi-sport athletes will also play a role in building flag football programs. Winstead noted that he will have three players who will also take part in the soccer program at BenU Mesa.

Arizona Christian will host opponents from across the country, including schools from Kansas and Texas, and potentially travel to face programs like Alabama State University, University of St. Francis, and Siena Heights.

“One of my top priorities is to keep that [Arizona] talent and bring some of that talent that left back home,” said Maccagnano. “Our facilities are among the best in the state of Arizona and across the country. Student-athletes have access to multiple high-quality practice fields, a dedicated strength and conditioning program, and elite-level training resources that support year-round development.”

Ottawa will also play on its on-campus turf field with access to their 5,000 sq. ft. indoor weight room and fully equipped training room. “Our goal is to be the first choice for local talent. Arizona has a deep and competitive pool of players, and we’re committed to building this program in AZ and for AZ,” said Lee.

“As more programs emerge, scholarships will play a major role in recruiting. We have the coaching staff and this year’s commitments to build something lasting, but the size and structure of our scholarship offers will be critical to staying competitive.”

The National Landscape

In 2020, the NAIA announced flag football would become a sanctioned sport. For the 2024-2025 academic season, the NAIA listed 23 participating schools in their qualification plans which was capped off by an eight-team championship playoff in May.

Arizona’s three collegiate flag football teams will play in the GSAC alongside California-based universities, La Sierra, Hope International, and Simpson. The GSAC becomes the third conference in NAIA women’s flag football and will mark the inaugural season for all six teams.

Meanwhile, the NCAA announced in February that they will allow DI, DII, and DIII athletics to decide whether they want to sponsor legislation to move flag football forward into becoming an official NCAA sport.

The NCAA needs a minimum of 40 schools to sponsor the sport at the varsity level and says that 65 of their schools already sponsor the sport at varsity or club levels. The lone NCAA flag football conference so far is the Atlantic East Conference, with support from the NFL and its flag football operator, RCX Sports. The AEC is an NCAA Division III conference and played a championship season in the spring of 2025. The conference was comprised of seven schools in the Northeast.

According to an NFHS report in 2023, about 500,000 girls ages 6 to 17 play flag football acroos the country and it is the fastest-growing sports in the United States. The NFL reported over 750,000 boys and girls have participated in its nationwide NFL flag football league with all 32 franchises sponsoring their own local leagues.

While other regions are beginning to catch up, Arizona is already positioned as a leader, and those in the local scene already know that.

Arizona Flag Football Can Lead the Way

“Everyone sees how Arizona flag has taken off,” said Winstead. “The growth in youth leagues have more than doubled and set us to grow the next generation. Look at GYFL girls teams over the past year. Our talent and numbers allow us to be a hotbed. Add that we have incredible coaching and it has allowed AZ to stay on top. You will see how AZ colleges will compete with the best.”

Maccagnano gives Hamilton High School head coach Matt Stone significant credit for preparing Arizona athletes. “His passion, vision, and tireless advocacy played a critical role in getting the sport sanctioned at the varsity level here. More importantly, through his collaboration with a national network of coaches, he helped shape the rulebook that has now been adopted across the United States.

“They’re already playing under almost all of the same rules and structure used at the collegiate level, which means they transition more smoothly into the next phase of the sport. While athletes in other states may need to adjust to new formats or learn different systems, Arizona players are already fluent in the game as it’s now being played at the national level.

“Combine that with the growing talent pool and the statewide investment in the sport, and it’s clear that Arizona is quickly becoming a hotbed for flag football! Producing athletes who are not only ready to compete but ready to lead the sport into its next chapter.”

Not only is Arizona one of just a dozen states to sanction high school flag football and offer the ability to earn state championships, but the talent in the Grand Canyon State is positioned to lay the foundation of the sport on the national stage.

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