The athletes charged with continuing the gold standard and championship aspirations of the United States at this summer’s IFAF Flag Football World Championships have been whittled down to preliminary rosters of 18 players.

Earlier this month, USA Football held trials for 60 men and 60 women, all hopeful of being on the flight to Lahti in Finland in August. They have now trimmed the pool to within four players of the final 12-athlete rosters for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Flag National Teams. The final decisions on who takes on the rest of the world will be made in Charlotte from late May to early June, with the other athletes serving as alternates, available to be called up to the 12-player roster if needed.

The latest men’s roster includes eight players who were crowned 2023 IFAF Americas continental champions in 2023, including those whose offensive firepower defeated Mexico 40-36 in the tournament finale. Quarterback Darrell ‘Housh’ Doucette is joined by five players who caught touchdowns in that win - Bruce Mapp, Velton Brown Jr, Aamir Brown, Laval Davis, and Christopher Cardona – and by Laderrick Smith, who threw the game’s decisive scoring pass.

Women’s head coach Saaid Mortazavi has kept faith with ten of the 12 athletes who defeated Mexico 26-21 to make it a continental double for the Americans. Included are quarterback Vanita Krouch and wide receiver Madison Fulford, who connected for four touchdowns in that victory, and Amber Clark whose late interception settled the contest.

The 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championship is the event’s first iteration since the International Olympic Committee confirmed the inclusion of flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The announcement added even more fuel to flag’s already skyrocketing popularity and has increased the competition for places on national team rosters around the world.

2024 U.S. Men’s Flag National Team Roster Name; Position; Residence (returning players in bold)

Michael Better; RSH/C; Baltimore, Md. Aamir Brown; ATH; Philadelphia, Pa. Velton Brown Jr.; WR/DB; Orlando, Fla. Isaiah Calhoun; DB/WR; Riverside, Calif. Nico Casares; QB; Coconut Grove, Fla. Mike Daniels; DB/WR; Miami Fla. Laval Davis; WR/RSH; Jacksonville, Fla. Darrell “Housh” Doucette; QB/C; New Orleans, La. Johnluis "LuLu" Hernandez; DB/C; Miami, Fla. Ja’Deion High; WR; Hereford, Texas Jamie Kennedy; DB/WR; Pompano Beach, Fla. Jesus Lorenzo; RSH/WR; Miami, Fla. Bruce Mapp; WR/DB; Philadelphia, Pa. Sean Moore; WR/RSH; Miami, Fla. Michael Pardue; DB/WR; Clarksville, Tenn. David Price; DB/C; Callahan, Fla. Laderrick "Pablo" Smith; WR/QB; Pompano Beach, Fla. Dana Taylor; DB/ATH; Dallas, Texas Head Coach: Jorge Cascudo Assistant Coach: Patrick Alley

2024 U.S. Women’s Flag National Team Roster Name; Position; Residence (returning players in bold)

Lacey Abell; QB; Sheboygan, Wis. Miranda Arellano; DB/C; San Antonio, Texas Deliah Autry; WR/DB; Tampa, Fla. Laneah Bryan; WR/DB; El Paso, Texas Amber Clark; DB/WR; Greenville, N.C. Ashley Edwards; WR/DB; San Antonio, Texas Kennedy Foster; WR/DB; Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Madison Fulford; WR/DB; Charlotte, N.C. Isabella Geraci; WR/DB; North Ridgeville, Ohio Brianna Hernandez-Silva; DB/QB; Las Vegas, Nev. Maci Joncich; WR/DB; Henderson, Nev. Ashlea Klam; C/DB; Austin, Texas Vanita Krouch; QB; Carrollton, Texas Leilanni Lopez; C/RSH; San Diego, Calif. Megan Majors; DB/WR; Chicago, Ill. Addison Orsborn; WR/RSH; Round Rock, Texas Jo Overstreet; WR/DB; Lewisville, Texas Brenna Ramirez; DB/WR; Gilbert, Ariz. Head Coach: Saaid Mortazavi Assistant Coach: Mary Kate Bula

Photo: USA Football