Sept. 3, 2026, 3:01 p.m. ET
USA TODAY Sports has launched its “Top IX” list to recognize top high school girls flag football players. The list highlights nine players weekly from teams ranked in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25. On the same day the NFL and NFL Flag announced girls flag football has cracked the top 10 for girls sports in the U.S., USA TODAY Sports is here to unveil its first edition of USA TODAY Sports’ Top IX flag football players, which recognizes the top single-game performances from flag football players playing for Super 25 teams around the country. But first — we know what you’re thinking: Why nine players instead of a top 10? USA TODAY Sports, alongside Studio IX, USA TODAY’s women’s sports hub, will recognize nine flag football players a week.
To answer a few other questions: These single-game performances come from players playing for teams ranked inside USA TODAY Sports Super 25 flag football rankings, which are released each Wednesday of the season. For this week’s list of top performers, performances from Aug. 26-Sept.
1 were considered. Let’s get on with it — here are USA TODAY Sports Top IX from Week 2, listed alphabetically:
Janell Adams, No. 10 Willowbrook (IL) Senior Janell Adams was all over the field in No. 10 Willowbrook’s 26-0 win over Romeoville last week. On offense, Adams tallied 13 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, she finished the night with 11 flag pulls — five of which were sacks. Callie Davis, No. 13 Vestavia Hills (AL) No. 13 Vestavia Hills’ two-way standout Callie Davis did it all in her team’s narrow, 13-7 win over Brewbaker Tech last week as the senior hauled in five receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown, in addition to a pair of flag pulls and two interceptions. Brooklyn Hedricks, No. 19 Dos Pueblos (CA) Brooklyn Hedricks, a senior for the 19th-ranked Chargers, helped Dos Pueblos make its USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings debut after her performance in the team’s 56-0 win over Channel Islands last week.
In the win, Hedricks recorded three receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns, while also notching five flag pulls and two interceptions. Kate Meier, No. 2 JSerra Catholic (CA) Though only a sophomore, Kate Meier is bound to be a frequent flyer on this list as she leads the nation’s second-ranked team under center. In last week’s 52-26 win over Torrey Pines, Meier went off for 438 passing yards and six touchdowns as she went 30-for-36 through the air, with her lone blemish being an interception. Showing off her athleticism, Meier also rushed for another two touchdowns in the win.
Brooke Norred, No. 24 Smith’s Station (AL) No.
24-ranked Smith’s Station senior quarterback Brooke Norred helped her team to a lopsided 41-6 win over Dothan last week as she threw for 325 yards, six touchdowns and an interception on a 29-for-38 passing night. Kelsey Peterson, No. 21 The Classical Academy (CO) The Classical Academy, which moved up three spots in the latest Super 25 rankings, got some help from its senior quarterback last week as Kelsey Peterson notched a 254-yard, four-touchdown night through the air, completing 22 of her 32 passes. Peterson also rushed for 32 yards and another pair of touchdowns in a 53-0 win over Riverdale Ridge. Tessa Russell, No. 2 JSerra Catholic (CA) Another sophomore to know on the nation’s second-ranked team, Tessa Russell managed double-digit receptions in the Lions’ win over Torrey Pines with 10 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Russell tallied nine flag pulls and an interception.
Ruby Streatfeild, No. 19 Dos Pueblos (CA) A senior two-way player for the nation’s 19th-ranked squad, Ruby Streatfeild shouldered the Chargers’ offense in its win over Channel Islands as she went 10-for-12 through the air for 118 yards and four touchdowns. Using her legs, Streatfeild also tallied 35 yards on four carries for another three touchdowns. Reagan Thomas, No. 24 Smith’s Station (AL) Joining her quarterback on this list is sophomore receiver Reagan Thomas, who collected eight reception for 128 yards and three touchdowns in No. 24-ranked Smith’s Station’s win over Dothan.
