In the closely connected world of sports and community, there are those whose influence extends far beyond the playing field, leaving an indelible mark on their sport and society. Diana Flores, captain and quarterback of the Mexican National Flag Football team, is one of these figures – a trailblazer whose flag football journey is as inspiring as it is impactful.
 
A global icon in what some consider to be the fastest-growing sport, Flores was honored as a special guest in the 2023 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, which featured a theme of Spirit of Competition. The night prior, Flores hosted a girls flag football clinic in Mesa that featured more than 100 girls in attendance learning the fine points of the game from an equivalent of Patrick Mahomes.
 
Flores began her career when she was eight years old in Mexico City, fearlessly competing with girls twice her age as youth leagues were not available.
 
"During my journey as a young flag football player, I heard the word 'no' a lot. 'No, you can't play this sport.' 'It's not for girls.' 'No, you're too short.' 'No, you can't play quarterback because you don't look like a quarterback,'" Flores recalled. "I would tell young girls to always believe in yourself regardless of what others think. Dream big and know there is always a way to achieve your dreams."
 
Undeterred by being told "no" and driven by her passion for the game, Flores was the sole female player in a boys flag football league in Mexico and later in the United States.
 
A decade later she became a world champion and an NFL ambassador.
 
Today, flag football stands as one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, with official recognition in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Last year alone, nearly 500,000 girls between ages six and 17 played flag football, a 63% increase since 2019.
 
"It is so amazing to see how the opportunities have grown for girls and how the sport in general has grown. It is just the beginning of many, many doors that will open for the next generation of flag football athletes to be able to achieve their dreams, not only on, but off the field," Flores said. "I can't wait for the world to see the phenomenal talent and excitement this sport has to offer."
 
Flores' ascent in flag football was meteoric. At the age of 16, she joined Mexico's National Flag Football team, becoming the youngest player to compete in an international tournament. Over the last decade, Flores has been a stalwart on the national team, making appearances at four World Cups and one World Games while earning bronze, silver and gold medals along the way.
 
One of the defining moments in Flores' journey came at the 2022 World Games when she led Mexico to unprecedented success, winning six consecutive games and taking home the gold medal. In the following year, Flores was the Offensive Coordinator of the AFC's team in the 2023 Pro Bowl, working alongside NFL legend Peyton Manning. "To play for my country is the biggest honor," Flores said. "I feel grateful to have the opportunity to represent my country, my people and that I get to share the field with such amazing people, and show the world the greatness of this sport and the power of women in sports."
 
Her impact transcends the field of play, where off the field she is a vocal advocate for women in sports and uses her platform to champion inclusivity and empowerment.
 
Flores serves as a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee and was recently recognized by Forbes on its prestigious "30 Under 30" list for the class of 2024. She is also flag football's first Under Armour sponsored athlete.
 
"I feel that being able to spread awareness of flag football has been one of the biggest blessings to me, to give back to the sport as a player and an ambassador off the field," Flores said.
 
Having started playing the sport in Mexico City, winning a world championship in Alabama and coaching girls at a clinic in Morocco, Flores continued her support for the sport in its growth trajectory right here in the Valley of the Sun by providing a night that the participants will never forget at the clinic in December.
 
"The advice I give to young girls playing flag football is to stay focused and work hard. If you put in the work, life has a way of working in your favor and everything you're doing will eventually pay off," Flores said. "It's important to never doubt yourself or your abilities. Remember that your power is unlimited both on and off the field."
 
Currently, there are eight states that have sanctioned flag football as a girls' high school sport (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New York) while 22 other states are experimenting with pilot programs.
 
As the sport's popularity and appetite for competition continues to grow rapidly, Flores hopes to see the inclusion of flag football in the NCAA, with scholarships for student-athletes, as well as the creation of a professional league that would allow women the opportunity to get paid to compete.
 
For so long, football has been considered a sport for boys and men. However, Flores is a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes worldwide, believing that flag football has the power to break gender and cultural barriers through the love and passion shared for the game.
 
"Flag football is such a fun sport and I truly believe it has the power to change lives because it has changed mine."