Updated June 28, 2026, 9:38 p.m. MT
El Paso’s Laneah Bryan continues to thrive in the sport of flag football.
USA Football announced that Bryan will be part of the final roster representing the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championship in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Aug. 13-16.
The World Championship represents the final world championship before flag football and Team USA Football make their Olympic debut in Los Angeles 2028.
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, when the Summer Games take center stage at Los Angeles. The sport is one of the fastest growing in the U.S. and around the world.
In 2024, 32 men’s and 23 women’s national teams from six continents competed in the IFAF Flag Football World Championships. The IFAF global community includes 80 federations.
Bryan is entering her fourth year as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Bryan was a part of the last World Championship-winning team (2024) and has represented her country across the U.S. and around the globe, competing in China, Finland, and Panama.
Bryan was a standout basketball player at Franklin High School and a former El Paso Times’ All-City MVP. She went on to earn a basketball scholarship at the University of New Mexico, playing four seasons (2014-18) for the Lobos and seeing action in 121 career games.
The USA Football’s Women’s National Teams recently concluded their third training camp at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. Following the completion of camp, the teams traveled to Los Angeles to face their counterparts from Canada in USA Football’s Rivalry Series. The exhibitions were a final opportunity for coaches and scouts to evaluate athletes before announcing the active 12-player rosters and alternates.
The U.S. Women’s National Team has won the past three world championships and currently ranks second in the world rankings. The team medaled in both The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, and IFAF’s Americas Continental Championship in Penonomé, Panama last year.
What Laneah Bryan said
“I’m so grateful to represent the United States and El Paso. It’s always a battle to make the team because there is so much talent and hard working players,” Bryan said. “I can’t wait for the trip to Germany and to try and help the team win a gold medal. Flag football is growing so much in El Paso and around the world, Females have opportunities to play more often and gain scholarships to play un college. It’s a great thing to see.”
2026 U.S. Women’s National Team Roster
Name; Position; Residence
Deliah Autry-Jones; LB/DB; Tampa, Fla.
Laneah Bryan; DB/WR; El Paso, Texas
NyKeeta Christopher; DB/WR; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Kennedy Foster; WR/DB; Kansas City, Mo.
Madison Fulford; WR; Los Angeles, Calif.
Isabella “Izzy” Geraci; WR/DB; North Ridgeville, Ohio
Loryn Goodwin; S/WR; Dallas, Texas
Akemi Higa; QB; Las Vegas, Nev.
Brooklin Hill; WR/Ath; Las Vegas, Nev.
Maci Joncich; WR/QB; Henderson, Nev.
Ashlea Klam; C/DB; Austin, Texas
Kendra Meredith; DB/Rush; Germantown, Md.
2026 U.S. Women’s National Team Alternates
Amber Clark-Robinson; S/DB; Saginaw, Mich.
Ashley Edwards; DB; San Antonio, Texas
Valentina Fanetti; QB; Middletown, N.J.
O’Mariah Gordon; WR/LB; Lake Wales, Fla.
Brianna Hernandez-Silva; Ath; Austin, Texas
London Jenkins; Rush/WR; Jacksonville, Fla.
Felix F, Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
