There’s one piece of silverware missing from the U.S. women’s national team trophy cabinet. And it’s a big cabinet, filled with three consecutive IFAF World Championships crowns and one from the 2023 IFAF Americas Continental Championships. But there’s that glaring gap.
The one tournament success to have so far eluded the U.S. – beaten only once since becoming the dominating force in women’s international flag football – is the gold medal at The World Games. Three years ago, on home soil in Birmingham, Alabama, Mexico produced a stunning 39-6 victory in the championship game to deny the Americans a clean sweep of titles.
“Our goal is simple: represent the United States with pride, compete at the highest level, and bring home the gold,” says head coach Saaid Mortazavi. “We understand what expectations are for the U.S.”
Defensive back Ashley Edwards agrees: “I don’t like guarantees, but we’re going there to win — plain and simple. With that said, it’s about more than just winning. That’s obviously priority number one, but we also want to compete with heart, stay locked in as a team.”
Back in 2022, USA saw off the challenge of Panama, Austria and France to win Group A, which they followed up with victories over Brazil in the quarterfinals and Austria in the semis. That one blot on the copybook against Mexico in the final at legion Field has since been eclipsed by back-to-back titles, winning continental and world crowns in the two years that followed, with Mexico beaten to the gold medal on both occasions. They don’t like to call it revenge for 2022, but there remains some unfinished business to address.
“It’s certainly motivation,” says defensive back Deliah Autry who was a member of the 2022 U.S. team. “I think it’s a mixture of a mutual respect between the two teams, but I think that we’re all very passionate and intense teams and come game time the high fives and hellos off the field are put aside when we play each other. We’re able to flip the switch and go from being friends to having a respectful rivalry and back again.”
This time around, the Americans take on two World Games debutants in Canada and host China, along with a familiar foe in Europe’s top-ranked nation Austria. All games will be streamed live at The World Games Live.
“The World Games is essentially the top teams, so my mentality is to not underestimate any one of those teams,” adds Autry. “This is a different level of intensity and we’re all going into this knowing that we’ve got to show up and give our best right from the start.”
Coach Mortazavi has a clear approach to facing the best in the world who are all looking to spring a surprise against the world’s top-ranked team.
“Against top-tier competition, every detail matters,” he says. “We will need discipline, focus, and unshakable trust in our team. Success comes down to preparation, chemistry, and the ability to execute under pressure. It’s important for me – and I have faith in our team – that this level of competition won’t intimidate us; it will inspire us to be our best.”
Looking back on her 2022 experience at The World Games in Alabama, Autry remembers enjoying the opportunity to watch athletes competing in other sports such as handball and sumo wrestling.
“It was a huge melting pot of culture and different experiences and that’s where a lot of our bonding came together, watching those other sports together as a team,” she recalls. “My favorite memory is meeting all the other athletes.”
Player to Watch: WR Isabella Geraci
Head Coach: Saaid Mortazavi, 3rd Year
World Ranking: 1st
Form (last 5 games): W vs MEX / W vs AUT / W vs SPA / W vs FIN / W vs IRE
2024 World Championships: 1st 2023 Americas Continentals: 1st 2022 The World Games: 2nd 2021 World Championships: 1st
