The momentum behind girls flag football continues to build, and North Carolina just became the latest state to join the movement. On Wednesday, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) officially sanctioned girls flag football as a state championship sport, making it the 22nd state in the country to do so.

The decision came during Day 2 of the NCHSAA's annual board meetings, where a narrow 9-8 vote by the Board of Directors gave the green light. It's a historic step for the Tar Heel State, which now joins a rapidly growing list of states embracing the sport at the high school level.

North Carolina follows closely on the heels of New Jersey, which became the 21st state to sanction girls flag football earlier this year. Just over a week ago, both Maryland and the District of Columbia also announced their approvals, with Maryland becoming the 19th state and D.C. the 20th. Kansas was another recent addition, coming in as the 18th state to sanction the sport.

The full list of 22 states now includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington.

This surge in official recognition reflects the sport's explosive growth. According to NFHS Network data, participation in girls flag football jumped to nearly 69,000 athletes during the 2024-25 school year. As more states like North Carolina come on board, the sport is quickly becoming a staple of high school athletics, offering new opportunities for young athletes to compete and shine.