More Than a Championship: WNFC Weekend Showcased the Future of Football

FRISCO, Texas — Championship Weekend has always been about crowning champions. This year, it became something much bigger.

Over two unforgettable days at Ford Center at The Star, the Women's National Football Conference brought together every level of the game, from youth athletes chasing their first championship to professional stars competing for the IX Cup on ESPN, creating one of the largest celebrations of women's football in the sport's history.

Thousands of fans packed The Star throughout the weekend, experiencing interactive activations from adidas, Dove, DRNX, Riddell Sports, Texas Sports Academy, Got Her Back, FearlessShe, Melo Munchies and other league partners, transforming the home of the Dallas Cowboys into a football festival built entirely around women and girls. Saturday belonged to the future.

The nation's top high school girls flag football players arrived in Frisco for the inaugural WNFC Varsity Top 100, representing some of the brightest young talent in America.

Elite prospects like Akela Martin, Faith Uluakiola and Anuhea Sauiluma joined nearly 100 of the country's best athletes for a day of competition in front of college coaches from programs including UT Arlington, East Texas Baptist, Howard Payne, Cal Lutheran, USC Upstate, the University of West Alabama, Millsaps, Southwestern College and several others.

The message was clear: there is now a real pathway for girls who dream of playing football.

After an exciting day of competition, Infinite Rizz captured the Varsity Top 100 Championship behind a talented roster led by quarterback Alyssa Olmos and featuring Saraiah Sika, Zyra Zavaia, Symiah Morgan, Kenyla Hearne, Olivia Robinson, Tocarra Moore, Ta'Rajia Blake, Rykiel Untalasco and Salafaiuatasi Iafeta.

The celebration continued as the Adult Women's National Flag Championship crowned the Chicago Winds as tournament champions after a full day of highly competitive play featuring some of the country's best adult flag football athletes.

One of the weekend's defining moments came when adidas officially introduced Alabama State flag football star Kiona Kilolo Westerlund as only the second women's football athlete ever signed by the brand. The announcement represented another milestone for the sport and highlighted adidas' growing investment in women's football.

Standing alongside her was fellow adidas athlete and USA Football star London Jenkins, who spent the weekend mentoring young athletes, supporting her new teammate and competing in the adult championship tournament herself.

Sunday shifted from celebration to recognition.

Championship morning began with the WNFC Championship Breakfast, where more than 200 guests gathered at the Omni Frisco Hotel to celebrate the athletes, leaders and partners driving the game forward. Hosted by the outstanding Tommi Vincent, with DJ Jay Slay providing the soundtrack for Championship Sunday, the event featured inspiring conversations on leadership, fandom and the future of women's football.

Highlights included a Leadership Beyond the Game panel in partnership with Players Coalition, an unforgettable keynote from hip-hop icon MC Lyte, recognition of the league's All-Pro athletes by ESPN analyst Jennifer King, and a Women's Football Fandom panel featuring league owners and industry leaders discussing the explosive growth of the sport.

One of the morning's most emotional moments came as Dove presented the 2026 Crown Award to Texas Elite Spartans linebacker Darcy Leslie, honoring her leadership and commitment to building confidence through sport. League MVP Kassidy Snowden of the Kansas City Glory headlined a distinguished group of individual award winners recognized for excellence throughout the 2026 season.

Then came the main event.

In front of one of the largest crowds in IX Cup history and a national television audience on ESPN, the Texas Elite Spartans delivered another championship performance, defeating the San Diego Rebellion 34-14 to capture their sixth WNFC Championship.

Quarterback Michelle Angel earned IX Cup MVP honors after accounting for four touchdowns, while Maria Jackson scored twice, including a spectacular ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 touchdown reception and Jamie Lock delivered one of the greatest defensive performances in championship history with a punt return touchdown and two interceptions. The victory cemented the Spartans' place as one of the greatest dynasties in women's football history and marked back-to-back championships for the organization.

The weekend concluded with the WNFC All-Pro Game, where many of the league's biggest stars took the field one final time. Jazmin Gamble opened the scoring for Team Cash before Renee Langlais connected with Coretta Hopkins for a spectacular touchdown that energized Team Dollaz. Kris Grimes powered the ground game, while Gamble added a two-point conversion as Team Cash carried a 14-7 lead into halftime in an entertaining showcase of the league's elite talent.

Throughout the weekend, cameras captured every moment. Coverage from ESPN, Victory+, Good Morning America, ABC, KERA, KTXS, 105.3 The Fan, LaChica Sports, Sports Travel Magazine, Jocelyn Knows Sports, Dallas Black Bloggers and numerous other media outlets helped share the WNFC story with audiences across the country.

But perhaps the biggest story wasn't the championships. It was the generations.

Young girls competed where professionals would later lift a championship trophy. College coaches evaluated tomorrow's stars. Corporate partners invested in the future of the game. Families packed the stands. Fans watched women's football take center stage on one of the sport's biggest platforms.

For one weekend in Frisco, the future of football wasn't imagined. It was on full display.

And if Championship Weekend proved anything, it's that the Women's National Football Conference isn't just building a league. It's building the future of the game.