USA FOOTBALL STATEMENTS ON LAUNCH OF GRAND SLAM OF FLAG
The following quote can be attributed to Scott Hallenbeck, CEO and Executive Director of USA Football. USA Football is the National Governing Body of American Football in the United States and will select, train and lead Team USA Football when flag football makes its debut in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles:
"We're grateful to Sam Rapoport, Michael Strahan and the teams at SMAC Entertainment, CAA and EverWonder Studio for investing in women's flag football and creating Grand Slam of Flag. As we prepare Team USA Football for LA28, one of our priorities is making sure our athletes are consistently competing against the best teams in the world. This series presents a tremendous opportunity to develop our athletes while showcasing international flag football on some of the world's biggest stages.
"USA Football will continue to pursue elite competitive and developmental opportunities for Team USA Football as we build toward LA28 and beyond by taking part in and creating international events."
The following quote can be attributed to Marcel Reece, Senior Vice President of Football Strategy & Operations at USA Football:
"The fastest way to get better is to compete against the best. Athletes need to challenge themselves and each other. Everybody wants to be the best in the world at what they do, and Grand Slam of Flag gives our athletes that opportunity to showcase their greatness. Team USA Football is going to battle against some great teams. We're excited and hungry to play on a stage like this on the path to LA28. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Background
Today, SMAC Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and EverWonder Studio announced the launch of Grand Slam of Flag, a new global tournament series for the world's top women's flag football national teams, developed in consultation with the NFL and in association with IFAF. Sam Rapoport, a longtime football executive with more than two decades of experience with the NFL, will serve as commissioner, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan serving as a founding partner.
The inaugural event will feature six women's national teams: the United States, led by USA Football, along with Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Spain and China. The series will debut in Los Angeles in February 2027 during Super Bowl week. The Slam will feature a $500,000 prize pool, the largest financial prize ever offered in women’s flag football. Additional 2027 event dates and host cities will be announced.
In August, the U.S. Women's National Team earned silver medals at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany. The women's national teams from the United States, Mexico and Canada have all secured their spots at LA28.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, with women and girls driving the surge in participation. Girls' flag football is now sanctioned as a high school varsity sport in more than 20 states, and the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact has recommended adding a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship. The first championship could be held as early as spring 2028.
In December 2025, NFL clubs voted to support the development and launch of a professional flag football league, and TMRW Sports recently hosted the first in a series of talent qualifiers for the professional league at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
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 Football® 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.