New Orleans Saints Announce Official Sanctioning of Girls High School Flag Football in Mississippi

The New Orleans Saints, in collaboration with the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA), announced today the official sanctioning of Girls High School Flag Football in Mississippi. This groundbreaking initiative is set to begin in the Spring of 2025, with the inaugural season slated to kick off in late March.

This historic partnership marks a significant milestone in expanding access to girls’ sports in the state, creating new opportunities for young student-athletes to engage in flag football while encouraging leadership, teamwork, and personal development. The MHSAA’s commitment to enhancing the educational experience for Mississippi students through extracurricular activities aligns perfectly with the Saints’ dedication to promoting and supporting youth athletics.

The pilot season will feature 12 high schools, with games taking place at Southwest Mississippi Community College and Picayune High School. The participating schools include:

• Brandon High School
• East Central High School
• George County High School
• McComb High School
• Meridian High School
• Oak Grove High School
• Perry Central High School
• Picayune High School
• Richland High School
• South Pike High School
• St. Martin High School
• Vancleave High School

“In keeping with our mission to enhance the educational experience through opportunities for participation in interscholastic activities, this initiative reflects our commitment to growing access and opportunity for student-athletes throughout the state,” said MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves. “We are grateful for the New Orleans Saints and the NFL for their partnership in this effort and look forward to building a robust, long-term relationship with the Saints organization.”

The launch of girls’ flag football in Mississippi also represents a continuation of the Saints’ work in advancing the growth of the sport across the Gulf South. By partnering with the MHSAA and other stakeholders, the Saints are providing vital support to local schools and inspiring future generations of athletes.

“We are thrilled to partner with the MHSAA and bring the excitement of girls’ flag football to the state of Mississippi,” said Gayle Benson, Owner of the New Orleans Saints. “This is just the beginning, and we look forward to seeing the league grow, offering more young women the chance to experience the joy and empowerment that sports bring.”

As the pilot season is preparing to launch, the Saints and MHSAA remain committed to expanding the program in the years to come, ensuring more schools and student-athletes across the state can be part of this exciting new chapter for Mississippi’s young student-athletes.

“This is an amazing milestone in our quest to sanction all 50 states for girls flag football,” said Stephanie Kwok, NFL Vice President of flag football. “Mississippi makes the 14^th state that has sanctioned flag football as an official girls’ high school varsity sport.  We have seen tremendous increase in participation in the sport, but it would not happen without NFL Club support like the New Orleans Saints.”

Flag football will officially be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games program, led by efforts of the International Federations of American Football (IFAF) and supported by the NFL.

-NewOrleansSaints.com-