Thursday 8/20/26 WCFFB WIRE
New college coaching insights from Hawaii, free professional development opportunities for program builders, national high school talent rankings, the inaugural USA TODAY Sports preseason All-America flag football team, and continued participation growth at the high school level highlight this edition of WCFFB Wire.
source: Hawaii Pacific University, hpusharks.com
HPU Women’s Flag Football Head Coach Kanda Korver Shares Vision for Program
Hawaii Pacific University became the first college in the islands to sponsor a women’s flag football program, with Kanda Korver named the inaugural head coach on July 6, 2026. In a recent Mana Wahine Wednesday feature, Korver discussed building the Sharks’ roster with athletes from across Hawai’i (OIA, ILH, and outer islands) as well as those with prior collegiate experience.
A former collegiate volleyball athlete and founder of Kore Vibration (serving more than 1,500 student-athletes), Korver previously assisted the KS-Kapālama girls flag football team. She described the HPU launch as “a huge community win” and credited university and athletic leadership for their courage in becoming the first. The program aims for at least 15 games against PacWest schools, post-high school leagues, and O’ahu club teams, while exploring international and mainland visitors to establish Hawai’i as a hub for the sport. Korver emphasized creating a championship culture rooted in transparency and adaptability as the team prepares for competition ahead of potential NCAA championship status in spring 2028.
Free DOC Talk and Leadership Course: Building Flag Football Programs with Amanda Ruller
Amanda Ruller, who built Eastern University’s flag football program from scratch into a nationally ranked team (35-8 record in two seasons), is hosting a free live DOC Talk on Monday, August 31 at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET titled “How to Build a Flag Football Program.” The session will cover systems for recruiting, culture, and long-term growth, offering practical lessons for coaches and administrators launching new programs. Attendance is free via Zoom, with live Q&A and a recording provided to all registrants.
Ruller’s 8-week Flag Football Leadership Course begins September 7. The online program delivers a complete blueprint covering program vision and culture, athlete recruitment, team standards, offensive and defensive design, practice planning, operations, budgeting, marketing, stakeholder management, and sustainability. Weekly live Zoom sessions with Ruller are included, along with templates and resources. The course is designed for coaches, athletic directors, high school and college leaders, club directors, and anyone responsible for launching or growing a successful flag football program.
Free DOC Talk registration:
https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/doc_talk
Flag Football Leadership Course details:
https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/flag-football-leadership
MaxPreps Names Top 100 High School Girls Flag Football Players to Watch for 2026-27
MaxPreps has released its list of the top 100 high school girls flag football players to watch for the 2026-27 season. Selections draw from statistics, coach nominations, game film, observations, and prior team success across fall, winter, and spring calendars.
The ranking is led by Makena Cook (Sr., Sierra Canyon, Calif.), a Team USA quarterback and 2025 MaxPreps National Junior of the Year. Other top-10 standouts include Ava Irwin (So., Sierra Canyon), Trishelle Tucay (Jr., Liberty, Nev.), Emery Beckett (Sr., Lake Travis, Texas), and Emerson De La Cruz (Sr., Maine South, Ill.). Eleven players who represented Team USA at the Junior International Cup appear in the top 25. The list highlights two-way athletes, high-volume quarterbacks and receivers, and talent from both established and emerging flag football states.
USA TODAY Sports Reveals Inaugural Preseason All-America High School Flag Football Team
USA TODAY Sports has announced its first-ever preseason All-America National Flag Football team for high school girls. The first- and second-team selections feature athletes from 10 states where the sport is fully sanctioned as a fall sport.First-team members (listed alphabetically) include Makena Cook (QB, Sierra Canyon, CA), Ava Irwin (WR/DB, JSerra, CA), Tessa Russell (WR/DB, JSerra, CA), Savannah Sevier (WR/LB, Central, AL), Azul Trujillo (QB, Vincent Memorial, CA), and others noted for versatility across positions. The second team features additional standouts such as Emerson de la Cruz (ATH, Maine South, IL) and Addisen Odom (QB, Greenbrier, GA). Selections were determined by a USA TODAY Network committee of national and state reporters. The team serves as a key watch list for elite talent as the high school season progresses.
High School Participation Continues Strong Growth
Nearly 69,000 girls competed in high school flag football during the 2024-25 academic year—a 60% increase from the prior year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. In Colorado, participation rose 161% after CHSAA sanctioning, with new programs launching at schools such as Berthoud and Riverdale Ridge. Coaches and players report strong interest, competitive depth (approximately 20 teams capable of contending for the state title), and growing college recruiting interest. Athletes and coaches emphasize the sport’s accessibility, rapid skill development, and expanding pathways toward collegiate and Olympic opportunities.