The Bears are continuing to inspire the next generation of girls in football, this time in Spain through the launch of an official girls flag football league.
In the coming weeks, leagues in Madrid and Barcelona will begin their inaugural seasons, giving hundreds of girls across 12-16 teams from eight different schools the opportunity to play a sport that is rapidly expanding around the world.
Having first introduced girls flag football through clinics in Spain three years ago, Bears director of football development Gustavo Silva knew the country's passion for the sport was special.
"Spain is a market for the Chicago Bears that we got in 2022, alongside the UK," Silva said. "We always liked Spain since we believe it's a country that is very similar to the community of Chicago. It's very similar in they love sports, and they have a lot of passion for their sports. We just had a feeling; something just felt right about being here. Girls flag football is very important because girls have less opportunities in sport across the globe.
"A lot of times, it's during their teen years when they abandon sports, so that's why we chose these girls, these age groups, from 12-15. On the contrary, we believe these are key years to be playing sports because there are a lot of opportunities in the sport of flag football for girls and women."
The Bears have now created opportunities for girls to compete in flag football in both Illinois and their two international markets. They first started a program in Chicago in 2021 which, three years later, turned into girls flag football becoming an IHSA-sanctioned sport. In 2023, the Bears launched the first girls flag football league in the United Kingdom and this spring, they expanded the program to three cities in its third season.
Silva and the Bears spent several days in Madrid and Barcelona to host kickoff events and clinics to celebrate the league's launch, generate enthusiasm and teach fundamental skills of flag football.
"First of all, I wanted the girls to feel welcomed and I wanted them to know they are valued by us, the Chicago Bears and by the sport of flag football and American football," Silva said. "There are a lot of values that boys have benefitted from in sports that girls also have a right to experience, like working hard, commitment, setting goals. Those things will help them be successful in life, not only in sport."
Nearly 400 students participated in the kickoff events and were not only supported by the Bears, but also by members of the Spain women's national team, including Atxa Delgado, Monica Rafecas and Olga Sotillo, as well as their coach, Kenny Bello.
Sotillo, a wide receiver for Team Spain, referred to flag football as "my life," having played for the past 10 years. Seeing young girls have more opportunities to learn the sport was powerful for Sotillo, who believes flag football has brought her a sisterhood that cannot be replicated.
"Flag football is just a big family," Sotillo said. "We spend a lot of weekends together seeing the same people, playing against the same people and that creates, I believe, an atmosphere that not a lot of other sports can create. So seeing children in schools that are implementing the sport, this way of living that flag football provides you, is one of the best things that has happened in this country.
"In the end you're playing a team sport in which you are only five people on the field at a time and everyone on the team must know how to do everything, so it naturally gives you a support system between five teammates. No matter what, we have to find a way. Always supporting one another. The support you get from your teammates is amazing and that sisterhood is the most important value, the family feeling of being united as one."
Team Spain has risen to the top of the sport in recent years and just placed third and the International Federation of American Football European Championship. They have also qualified for the 2026 World Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany, with hopes of bringing a medal to Spain.
Rafecas, the quarterback of the national team, felt tremendous pride in helping out at the clinics last month. Having played flag football since she was 11 years old, Rafecas is excited to see more girls learn the sport at a young age.
"The Chicago Bears league is incredibly important here in Barcelona, Madrid, Spain because it promotes flag football at the school level, which is how kids should start playing football — at an early age with their peers," Rafecas said. "I have amazing memories of the times I used to play with my friends. We would play in the recreation center or any chance we could during school, we would use as an excuse to play flag football.
"The family and bond we built in that team, that's what I remember the most, heartwarming memories. And I believe that's the best path — playing since you are little and in school, and thanks to the Chicago Bears, we are able to implement the game here in Barcelona and Madrid, and we hope even more cities."
While the sport has been established in Spain for years, the Bears are aiming to make girls flag football more accessible for younger age groups while at the same time, opening doors for girls and women to play in college and eventually, the national and international stage.
"This league is a very important piece in the growth of the sport and continuing to establish it as something meaningful in Spain," Silva said. "We want American football to be accessible and inclusive for everyone. And the girls, the women have a part to play in this effort.
"Especially now that we know that the 2028 Olympics will have male and female teams to be able to represent their countries, we want the girls that are here today to have an opportunity one day to represent Spain in the Olympics."
