Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill excited to spotlight girls high school flag football broadcasts

PHOENIX – Girls high school flag football has continued to grow in Arizona during the past year and it is setting another milestone with the help of the Arizona Cardinals.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals became the first NFL team to broadcast a girls high school flag football game of the week. The broadcast was complete with commentary from the Cards’ play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch, play-by-play analyst Ron Wolfley and reporter Dani Sureck on the sidelines.

Before the game, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show he is excited to put a spotlight on the growing sport.

“They’ve been practicing all summer. They’ve been working hard, just as hard as the boys are and it’s exciting to showcase them,” Bidwill said.

Tuesday’s game featured Hamilton High School visiting Xavier College Prepatory. Both squads faced off last year with Hamilton winning 21-6. Hamilton’s Asia Denson is the daughter of Cardinals running back coach Autry Denson.

The game is one of multiple broadcasts that will take place weekly on Tuesday or Thursday nights until Nov. 7.

“We are so pleased we can do a whole season of these broadcasts … we’re going to have a whole broadcast schedule throughout the year with or A-level talent broadcasting the games,” Bidwill said. “We’re going to give them all the attention we can.”

“We’re the first NFL team to do it and we’re looking for great success and hopefully more teams follow our lead next year.”

To further support girls flag football, the Cardinals will give the winning team’s coach a check for $1,000 from the NFL Foundation and Cardinals Charities. A player of the game will also be selected and receive a trophy and certificate signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and Bidwill.

Arizona officially sanctioned the sport in 2023 with 57 teams playing in the inaugural year. Considerable growth has occurred in just one year, with over 100 high schools offering the sport in 2024.

“These women athletes are tremendous athletes,” Bidwill said. “The quarterbacks can throw the ball, there is speed, there is action. I was super impressed and I’ve been super impressed when I’ve been out to these games just to see how exciting the game is.”

The game hasn’t just grown in the Grand Canyon State. Over 1,800 flag football leagues have been created with around nearly 700,000 players. Women make up 25% of the player base, around a half a million girls between ages 6 and 17 played flag football.

It has grown so exponentially that it will debut as an Olympic sport in 2028 for men and women athletes.