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Events · Pathways

National Team & Tryouts

How a high school athlete reaches the USA Football 17U Girls Junior National Team, and how Team USA did in 2026.

See tryouts & ID campsUSA Football Talent ID Camps

The pathway

Six steps to the 17U Junior National Team

  1. 01

    Get a Youth Athlete ID

    Get a TEAM USA FOOTBALL Youth Athlete ID ($35).

  2. 02

    Talent ID Camp or Digital Combine

    Attend a Talent ID Camp ($69) or complete the free GMTM Digital Combine (7 tests). 2026 windows are closed; Digital Combine #3 is TBC.

    Digital Combine

  3. 03

    Select Bowl or Stars & States

    Top performers are invited to the Select Bowl or Stars & States (June, Carson, CA; $499) or directly to National Team Trials.

  4. 04

    National Team Trials

    2026: Mar 5–8, Chula Vista. 2027 Trials dates TBC.

  5. 05

    Training camps

    Two camps at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (2026: Apr 16–19 and May 21–24).

  6. 06

    Final roster

    12 players + 6 alternates, then the Junior International Cup in June (Los Angeles).

Eligibility

17U = age 16 or 17 on Dec 31 of the competition year; 15U = age 14 or 15. Must be a U.S. national with a valid passport. For the 2027 cycle, Talent ID Camps run Nov 2026 – Mar 2027; none is currently listed in California (closest: Gilbert, AZ, Jan 16, 2027).

Sources: USA Football Talent ID Camp · Jr. National Team selection procedure (PDF)

Results

2026 national team results

IFAF World Championships · Düsseldorf · Silver

U.S. Women's National Team

Head coach Saaid Mortazavi. Beat Australia 46–14, Spain 52–31, Germany 35–34, Great Britain 27–21; lost to Canada 20–27 in the final. Women's flag football is on the LA28 Olympic program.

Final 12

Akemi Higa · Ashlea Klam · Brooklin Hill · Deliah Autry-Jones · Izzy Geraci · Kendra Meredith · Kennedy Foster · Laneah Bryan · Loryn Goodwin · Maci Joncich · Madison Fulford · NyKeeta Christopher

Junior International Cup · Carson, CA

U.S. 15U girls — Gold

U.S. 15U girls won gold at the 2026 Junior International Cup.

2026 17U Girls Junior National Team — final 12 (per USA Football)

Emery Beckett · Isla Collins · Makena Cook · Natalie Fischer · Gigi Gambino · Ariana Karastanovic · Jodie Keo · Ayden Klaiber · Hailey Morgan · Kaitlyn Reynolds · Tessa Russell · Trishelle Tucay

No San Diego County athletes made the final roster.

Next level

College pathway

The NAIA holds its first women's flag football national championship in spring 2027 (~60 programs expected in 2026–27). California community colleges (e.g., Norco, Southwestern, Grossmont) and a growing number of clubs (UC San Diego club joins NIRSA in 2026–27) add more roster spots.

Sources: Heart of America Conference · Collegiate Flag Football newsletter