Vikings Sponsor Girls Flag Football League in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings are championing gender equity in sports by sponsoring girls flag football leagues across Minnesota. This initiative reached a milestone with the inaugural high school summer league championship held at TCO Stadium, featuring four participating schools: Houston, La Crescent-Hokah, Pine Island, and Rosemount. The championship match saw La Crescent-Hokah and Rosemount compete fiercely, showcasing the competitive spirit of the players. Coaches and players emphasized the seriousness of the game, with La Crescent-Hokah's head coach Terry Donovan stating, "This is not old powder puff football, this is legit play-making football." Players like Lauren Stiles from Rosemount and Savannah Klinski from La Crescent-Hokah echoed this sentiment, expressing their commitment to hard work and competition, while also enjoying the sport. The Vikings have shown strong support for the league, with players Harrison Phillips and Blake Cashman present at the games. Phillips remarked on the impressive level of play, indicating that he would need to step up his game to compete. Over the past three years, the Vikings have invested more than $300,000 in promoting girls flag football, aiming to elevate it to a sanctioned sport in the future. Donovan, who also coaches the boys' team, believes that this initiative will have lasting impacts, allowing future generations to witness girls competing for state championships. He highlighted the personal growth and opportunities that come from participating in sports, reinforcing the importance of this program for young female athletes.