Women fuel the growth of flag football in Triangle, beyond

JOHNSON C. SMITH ATHLETICS

More girls and women are engaging with flag football, which is fueling the sports growth at all levels.

Women’s flag football is exploding.

Girls as young as 8 are playing the game, and sponsors and investors are taking notice.

BallHer’s Choice Sports Flag Football has been on the forefront in the Triangle to engage girls and women in the sport. The league has hosted tournaments and clinics since its inception in 2023. Its theme is “Her Sports. Her Choice. Her Way.”

BallHer’s Choice Sports was founded by Maria Barber, the commissioner of the league. Barber is a social worker who got involved in flag football through a personal trainer despite having no experience.
The league just finished its sixth season in the Triangle and has grown to nine teams.

Its Let Her Be Sports Summit 2026 for ages 13 and up is Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the OYM The Center in Raleigh. Registration is at www.eventbrite.com.

The networking summit will gather athletes, coaches and supporters to celebrate and encourage girls and women in all sports. Some of the topics covered will be career pathways, personal branding, eliminating barriers, athletic development and, of course, mental health. It’s open to the beginner as well as the experienced athlete.

BallHer’s Choice spring flag football league runs April 19-June 7 at Old Chapel Hill Road Park in Durham. The minimum age to participate is 17 and the maximum age is 65. Registration is ongoing at ballherschoicesports.com. Volunteers also are needed.

CIAA Hall of Fame

The CIAA released its 2026 HOF class, and while all nine are quite deserving, one name stood out for me.

Fred Whitted was as nice as he was passionate about preserving HBCU history. I put his death in my top 10 sports moments of 2025 because that’s just how special he was.

Fred loved HBCUs, he loved his alma mater, Winston-Salem State, and he loved history. I still have one of the first Black College Sports Encyclopedias he published back when the CIAA Tournament was in Raleigh. It is priceless.

We sat together at so many tournaments and talked for hours. If a player scored so many points or grabbed a bunch of rebounds, Fred would say, “that’s not a record. (Fill in the blank) holds the record.”

Everybody, and I mean E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y called Fred for information. When ESPN produced the documentary “Black Magic,” detailing the history of CIAA basketball, producers knew who to call.

How sad that he’s not here to accept an honor long overdue.

The remaining eight:

• Jerome “Biggie” Bell Sr., Virginia State (1974-79): Bell is VSU’s all-time leader in career assists, single-season assists and single-game assists.

• Andrea Giscombe, St. Augustine’s (1996-97): CIAA and NCAA national track and field champion, and she helped coach the Falcons to 21 national titles and 79 CIAA championships under legendary coach George Williams.

• Akira Turner, Fayetteville State (2010-11): One of the most decorated bowlers in CIAA history.

• Otis Stroud, Johnson C. Smith: Four decades of announcing CIAA games and tournaments. What a voice!

• Ralph “Pete” Hunter, Virginia Union: A dominant defensive back and the only Division II player drafted in the 2002 NFL Draft.

• Donald Ware, football officiating: No, not Donal Ware (no D on the end) of Boxtorow.com. This Ware was a 31-year conference official, and he still has his sanity.

• George Leonard, Virginia State (1976-79): Leonard graduated as the program’s all-time rushing leader with 3,575 yards and 33 touchdowns.

• Charlie Neal: Jimmy Jenkins Legacy Award Recipient: There are not enough words to describe Neal. Google.

Bonitta Best is sports editor at The Triangle Tribune in Durham.

Comments