TEAM USA FOOTBALL EARNS SILVER MEDAL IN THE WORLD GAMES 2025

Back-and-forth Gold Medal Match caps historically competitive tournament as all eyes turn toward upcoming Americas Continental Championship 

CHENGDU, CHINA – Team USA Football earned the Silver Medal at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China on Sunday. Mexico scored on the final play of the game to take a 26-21 lead. The U.S. Women’s National Team also claimed the Silver Medal when flag football debuted at The World Games in Birmingham, Ala. in 2022.  

This marks the fifth consecutive international competition in which the U.S. and Mexico have clashed in the Gold Medal Match. The U.S. is 3-2 against Mexico in such finals, which include two International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championships, two World Games and the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Championship.  

The U.S. and Mexico have another opportunity to claim a title this fall as the second-ever IFAF Americas Continental Championship will be held in Panama in September. The U.S. Women’s National Team won the biennial event in Charlotte, N.C. in 2023.  

The U.S. and Mexico won’t be the only programs with their eyes on gold in Panama. Canada topped Austria in the Bronze Medal Game, making it a podium sweep for North America at The World Games 2025. The field also featured teams from China, Great Britain, Italy and Japan.  

The World Games 2025, which featured approximately 4,000 athletes from over 100 countries, was the final international, multi-sport stage to feature flag football before the game makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.  

The outcomes of all the U.S. Women’s National Team’s games may be found on usafootball.com. Recordings of the games are available at live.theworldgames.org. 

Finals: Mexico 26, U.S. 21 

The U.S. Women’s National Team and Mexico engaged in a hard-fought defensive battle that came down to Mexico scoring on the final play of the game. The finals marked the second consecutive match for the U.S. that came down to the final play.  

Flag football is usually characterized as a fast-paced, high-scoring sport, but the Gold Medal Match took a surprisingly defensive tone early on. Neither team got on the board until Vanita Krouch found Ashlea Klam for a short touchdown pass with just 55 seconds remaining in the first half. A flurry of action resulted in Mexico taking a 14-7 lead going into halftime.  

With both offenses struggling to find the end zone, defensive back Deliah Autry-Jones stepped up with a pick-six that helped the U.S. draw even with Mexico at 14-14. Autry-Jones, who joined Krouch as the only remaining members from the 2022 World Games Silver Medal team, led the U.S. with four interceptions across their six games in Chengdu.   

Mexico responded to take a 20-14 lead. With 34 seconds left, the U.S. faced a fourth down three yards shy of the first down marker. Krouch connected with Fulford for a 28-yard touchdown strike. Fulford led the U.S. in receiving yards at The World Games 2025 and tied Isabella Geraci with ten touchdown receptions.  

Mexico notched the deciding score on the final play of the game 

Assets for use – Please courtesy USA Football:   

• USA Football logos for editorial use are available at this link.   

• Highlight video from the U.S. National Teams’ gold medal winning performances at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships for use is available at this link.   

• USA Footballs’ 2025 U.S. National Team Media Guide.  

2025 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team Roster   

Name; Position; Hometown (Current Residence)  

Deliah Autry-Jones; DB/WR; Tampa, Fla. (Tampa, Fla.)  

Laneah Bryan; DB/WR; El Paso, Texas (El Paso, Texas)  

Amber Clark-Robinson; DB/WR; Greenville, N.C. (Kansas City, Kan.)  

Ashley Edwards; DB/WR; San Antonio, Texas (San Antonio, Texas)  

Madison Fulford; WR/DB; Charlotte, N.C. (Round Rock, Texas)  

Isabella Geraci; WR/DB; North Ridgeville, Ohio (North Ridgeville, Ohio)  

Brianna Hernandez-Silva; DB/WR; Las Vegas, Nev. (Cedar Park, Texas)  

London Jenkins; WR/DB: Jacksonville, Fla. (Jacksonville, Fla.)  

Maci Joncich; WR/QB; Henderson, Nev. (Gainesville, Fla.)  

Ashlea Klam; C/DB; Austin, Texas (West Palm Beach, Fla.)  

Vanita Krouch; QB; Carrollton, Texas (Carrollton, Texas)  

Addison Orsborn; Rush/WR; Round Rock, Texas (Ottawa, Kan.)  

2025 U.S. Women’s Flag Alternates   

Ariel Blair; DB/WR; El Paso, Texas (El Paso, Texas)  

Jacci Crowe; WR/DB; Lake Forest, Calif. (Lake Forest, Calif.)  

Valentina Fanetti; QB; Middleton, N.J. (West Palm Beach, Fla.)  

Alexandra Harris; WR/DB; Miami, Fla. (Miami, Fla.)  

Sarah Massucci; WR/DB; Wichita, Kan. (Denver, Colo.)  

Janae Scott; DB/WR; Tallahassee, Fla. (Thomasville, Ga.)  

Head Coach: Saaid Mortazavi  

Assistant Coach: Mary Kate Bula  

Assistant Coach: Matthew Hernandez  

About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.