The Bears offered their support for the third annual Illinois High School Association girls flag football state championships Oct. 16 and 17.
Chairman George H. McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren traveled to Willowbrook High School in west suburban Villa Park, with McCaskey working the down marker and Warren conducting the coin flip before the St. Charles North-Evanston quarterfinal contest.
Eight schools out of about 240 that fielded girls flag football teams this fall participated in the quarterfinals last Friday, with the semifinals and finals held Saturday. St. Charles North captured the state championship, completing a perfect 26-0 season with a 32-13 win over Prospect in the title game. Running back Alexzandria Richardson led the way on both sides of the ball for the North Stars in the championship game, recording 97 yards, 3 TDs and 10 flag pulls.
"This is really exciting, and you can tell even from a talent level it is improving with the additional practice and games," Warren said. "There are some talented young women here, and it's good to see them compete, and it is also good to see them have an opportunity to play in college."
The Bears played a major role in girls flag football becoming an official state-sanctioned sport by creating and leading a grassroots effort, partnering with high schools to establish programs and build statewide participation. The team initially worked with Chicago Public Schools, launching a 21-team league in 2021.
The Bears funded and conducted girls flag football camps and other events, raising awareness for the sport and fostering growth. Eventually, more than 100 high schools formed teams, meeting the IHSA's requirement for a state-sanctioned varsity sport with a state championship at stake. The announcement that girls flag football had become a state-sanctioned sport came Feb. 14, 2024, at Halas Hall.
"It's extremely gratifying knowing that the Chicago Bears not only support this, but really initiated the growth of it," said Bears director of football development Gustavo Silva. "The reality is that without the Bears, this wouldn't have happened this quickly and I don't think we would have as many girls playing.
"It's important because we didn't want girls to leave high school without having this opportunity. The thing that I hear the most from women is that they wish they would have had this when they were in high school, and I just didn't want to hear that from another group of young ladies."
Warren is also grateful for the Bears' involvement in girls flag football.
"I am grateful to have the Chicago Bears participate in the growth of girls flag football in Illinois," Warren said, "and to see some of these young women be able to play in college and, ultimately, in the Olympics and one day professionally."
For the third consecutive year, Warren's wife, Greta, helped facilitate CPR training at the state championships, conducted in partnership with the Bears and the American Heart Association. About 100 girls high school flag football players took part in the training, as did members of the Chicago Winds, a professional female football team. In addition, the Bears provided monetary donations to the schools to purchase AED equipment.
"Health and wellness is so critically important," said Kevin Warren. "Greta is passionate about all health, and especially heart health, and are blessed to be able to lean in at every level."
