Flag football has solidified its role in the desert through the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, making history by showcasing the talent of women's collegiate athletes.
In its debut, the classic featured eight schools from across the country, competing in a 7-on-7 tournament over two days, in pursuit of a championship.
Tournament participants included Alabama State, Charlotte, Florida, Georgia, GCU, UCF, USC and Arizona State as the home university.
Women's flag football is fairly new to Tempe, with the Sun Devils' first season kicking off in January 2025.
Sierra Smith, a junior studying sports journalism, alongside her twin sister Sophia, a junior studying parks, recreation and sport management, established the women's club at ASU. Sierra hoped an event like this would happen eventually, but since the club is still in its early stages, she didn't think it would happen so quickly.
READ MORE: New ASU women's flag football team plays for more than a win
In addition to working alongside her family, Sierra recruited familiar faces to help guide her growing program, with former Club HBHF coach Jesse Pap at the helm.
"(The coaches) really invest their time and really come out and support us," Sierra said. "They're not paid to be out here. So, so thankful for them. They're truly like fathers for every single one of us."
She's witnessed the effects of the fast-growing phenomenon that is flag football. As more schools have moved to adopt the sport, there's been an increase in competition, with the Sun Devils' schedule significantly evolving in their second year.
ASU's women's flag football team isn't the only one in a state of evolution, and the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic served as a platform to show the sport's development and the talent of the athletes within it.
READ MORE: Girls' flag football taking off in Arizona with Cardinals' support
During the first day of the classic, teams competed in pool play, with each school facing three opponents.
The Floridians dominated pool play, with UCF ending at No. 1 after securing three wins, the largest by 44 points, and Florida ended at No. 2, after winning three games, one by 37 points.
No. 3 Georgia took home two wins, one being the largest of the day, after defeating GCU 67-0.
For the senior Bulldog Avery Scott, playing at the national stage has been a "huge opportunity," and one she hopes to make a statement with.
"I hope we're able to make a statement through it," Scott said. "More than just ourselves, but for (Georgia), for our team, for flag football, and for women in sports in general, that we belong here."
No. 4 ASU secured two wins, one being a fourth-quarter comeback over Alabama State, where the Sun Devils trailed 20-13, tying the game at around the 8-minute mark, and taking the lead 27-20 in the final moments.
No. 5 USC and No. 6 Alabama State secured a win each, with USC defeating GCU 31-8 and Alabama State defeating Charlotte 20-13.
Both No. 7 Charlotte and No. 8 GCU went winless in pool play, with the Lopes failing to get on the scoreboard in two of their contests.
Despite GCU's outcome in the tournament, sophomore Elayna Trinder hopes that as a whole the classic can influence the future landscape of flag football, starting with the NCAA.
"I hope that it shows the NCAA committee that it is a growing sport, and it could be a Division I sport more than a club sport," Trinder said.
Having the "club" sport distinction has posed some challenges, as it doesn't offer the same resources or funding as the DI sports. At ASU, the club has networked within the community and connected with businesses in an attempt to grow and make a name for itself.
Day two of the tournament opened with all eight schools, but throughout the day, teams were weeded out until only two remained, in hopes of making history.
The quarterfinals ended with no upsets as the No. 1 through No. 4 seeds advanced to the semifinals, with UCF, ASU and Georgia holding their opponents scoreless.
In the semifinal games, No. 1 UCF defeated No. 4 ASU 26-7, while No. 2 Florida defeated No. 3 Georgia 27-14, making the championship game that of a Floridian showdown in the desert.
UCF maintained its dominance throughout the tournament, leading it to an undefeated run and a 19-7 win over Florida.
Early on, the Knights set the momentum by intercepting the Gators' ball and running the offense with two touchdowns that went unanswered, leaving Florida in a 13-0 deficit at the half.
The Gators finally touched the scoreboard at the six-minute mark of the third, trailing 13-7, and just when the energy began to shift in favor of Florida, UCF reclaimed the game's momentum.
In the final minutes of the fourth, the Knights had their second interception of the game, followed by a 44-yard touchdown on the following play, increasing their lead 19-7 with just two minutes to spare.
UCF's win over Florida signifies a championship and a moment in history, as the Knights are the victors of the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic. A tournament that is the first of its kind, aiming to highlight the talent of the women playing the sport and provide momentum for the sport's future.
Georgia senior Nealie Cook believes this classic and the platform it provided women's flag football with will set a standard for the game moving forward.
"It'll change everything," Cook said. "Women's flag football is coming, and we're ready to play and compete. This is the beginning of everything."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
