‘We’re on the rise.’ High school girls flag football is ‘blowing up’ in Idaho
When Cassandra Clough was in high school, there wasn’t a great option for girls who wanted to play football.
But Optimist Youth Football is changing that.
After starting Idaho’s first youth league for girls flag football in 2024, the nonprofit has expanded to the high school level this spring.
“When I was a little girl, I really wanted to play football, but I thought only the guys could,” said Megan O’Coyne, a freshman at Bishop Kelly. “I thought I would have to be a cheerleader or do something like that.
“But when I found out we had a league like this, I was so happy. Now girls that were younger than me when I first started can have this opportunity. It’s just really great.”
As girls flag football gains a foothold in the Gem State, Clough has been there to help guide players from the start.
Clough started playing for the Boise-based women’s flag football team called the Boss Babes in 2018, so it didn’t take too much convincing to get her to coach a team — and share her love for the sport — when the girls league opened in 2024.
“It’s so awesome, because it’s blowing up,” Clough said. “You’re seeing that women can do this, too. It’s not just a man’s sport. It’s absolutely a women’s sport, and we’re good at it.”
There are 19 states that have sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport through their respective state athletic associations, with four more set to vote on sanctioning later this year, according to MaxPreps.com. Another 14 are running pilot seasons with the possibility of full adoption.
And women’s flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Could Idaho be on the same path?
The OYF has seen significant growth in girls flag football since its inaugural season. The spring of 2024 saw 68 girls across eight teams. That grew to 148 players and 16 teams in 2025, and there are 171 players and 20 teams in 2026.
Most of the players range in age from 8 to 13; the high school league consists of 34 girls on four teams.
“It’s exciting, because I know a lot of people have been waiting for this,” said Katelyn Shelton, a 10th grader at Owyhee. “I know I’ve been excited. To hear about it, a lot of people were shocked. An all-girls league? We didn’t know that was possible, especially in Idaho. I’m really excited to see what happens and see the competition that’s out there.”
The four high school teams with OYF are a combination of schools from around the Treasure Valley. Clough’s team has players from Rocky Mountain, Owyhee, Bishop Kelly, Cole Valley Christian and even a homeschooled athlete.
“I know a lot of girls who love watching football and love being like, ‘Yeah, I’ll throw the ball around with you,’” said Audrielle Swayney, a freshman at Owyhee. “I think if more of them heard about this sport, they’d be like, ‘I totally want to join that.’”
Clough’s squad participated with other OYF teams in an exhibition after the Boise State football team’s spring game on Saturday at Albertsons Stadium.
The teams will begin playing real 7-on-7 games this week. Games are played on Monday and Wednesday nights at the Optimist Youth Sports Complex at 9889 W. Hill Road Parkway in Boise.
“Just seeing our growth from the first year to now is crazy,” Clough said. “… I’ve watched rugby explode, and lacrosse is exploding. We’re next. We’re on the rise.”
