Shawnee Mission East's girls flag football team takes the field for its first varsity game Sept. 2 at Lawrence Free State High School.

The matchup marks a milestone for the Prairie Village school and for Kansas high school athletics. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport for the 2026-27 school year, as KSNT reported. SM East is among the programs launching the sport in its debut season.

Coach Alexander Henton told The Harbinger, SM East's student newspaper, that practices have gone well since tryouts wrapped up Aug. 21. The team has been installing its offense and defense ahead of the opener.

"There was an excitement around the girls in the early parts of 2026 when they started talking about potentially adding the sport," Henton said. "[This is] an exciting opportunity and it seemed like a really fun chance to allow a new opportunity for girls to gather and play sports."

Three varsity players have stood out early. Annika Berg, who competed at the national level with her club team, has emerged as a leader on the field. Maya Monyakula and Rubi Hakes have also drawn praise for their skills in practice, according to The Harbinger.

The team's stated goal: win a state championship. Longer term, Henton and his players want to build a foundation for a program that did not exist a year ago.

The Shawnee Mission School District paved the way on June 8, when the Board of Education voted 6-0 to fund girls flag football across all five comprehensive SMSD high schools. The program carries an estimated startup cost of $121,608.95, according to board records. That figure includes roughly $52,465 for uniforms and $37,055 for coaching contracts.

Kent Glaser, the district's director of athletics and activities, presented the proposal. He noted the sport helps fill the gap left by the Sunflower League's discontinuation of girls' gymnastics. The board-approved plan calls for varsity and junior varsity teams at each of the five SMSD high schools.

SM East celebrated 114 total state championships at its Aug. 12 pep assembly. The Lancers' girls flag football squad gets its shot at No. 115 starting Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Free State's football stadium in Lawrence.