By Chris Bibona
CARSON, Calif. — The reigning flag football world champions reminded the playing field exactly why they hold that title.
On a weekend that featured three straight blowout victories, it was the fourth and final match that tested the U.S. Women’s Flag Football National Team — but proved how disciplined and determined that group of champions is under pressure.
Five countries rendezvoused in Los Angeles on June 21 and 22 for USA Football’s International Bowl, a friendly tournament composed of select men’s and women’s national flag football teams. The USA's women’s team was met by Germany, Japan, Australia and Canada — then proceeded to dispose of all but one with victories of 24 points or greater.
“I’m most impressed with the environment that we’ve created within our team,” said U.S. Women’s Flag National Team head coach Saaid Mortazavi. “It’s a true team-first concept… the grit and determination that this team has… the want and need to perfect everything we do… I just admire the players.”
It was the Canadian National Team that summoned the aforementioned grit and determination, forcing Team USA to convert on a handful of late-game heroics.
The matchup’s action began with an Ashlea Klam receiving touchdown for Team USA, but the extra point went incomplete. That blemish would be exacerbated after Canada defensive back Lauriane Beauchamp came up with an interception. Then, Team Canada quarterback Sandrine Gobeil-Huot connected with wide receiver Caroline Moquin-Joubert on a corner route in the end zone on the ensuing offensive drive. Moquin-Joubert ran an identical route to convert the extra point, and Canada led 7-6 heading into halftime.
In the second half, USA QB Vanita Krouch heaved a lateral pass across midfield, finding WR Maci Joncich virtually unguarded. Joncich took the reception down the sideline and beat the defense to the pylon for a USA touchdown. Amending the team’s prior missed extra point, Klam converted a 2-point attempt to put her squad ahead, 14-7.
The advantage was short lived, as Moquin-Joubert found her way into the end zone for her second touchdown of the game. Canada opted for the counterpunch, and executed a 2-point attempt of their own to move ahead 15-14. Prior to that play would be the last time Team USA held a lead until the clock struck zero.
Canadian defensive back Sabrina Gervais made matters worse for the U.S. when she picked off a pass on the first play of the next drive. Canada capitalized with another touchdown, this time WR Laurence Pontbriand muscling in a heavily contested goal-line fade.
The deficit was eight points for the U.S., as Canada launched ahead 22-14 following that favorable three-drive sequence.
“We knew going into it, it’d be a great game,” said Team USA WR Izzy Geraci. “They definitely showed up on both sides of the ball… I had a great time competing against [Canada].”
The States responded with a much-needed touchdown, Krouch to Geraci. However, they failed to equalize the score on a 2-point attempt, and still trailed 20-22.
Team USA found itself with just 1:50 remaining in the game, defending on a fourth-and-long. They needed a defensive stop, and they got it.
This set the scene for a final drive made for cinema.
Krouch authored a game-winning drive to the likes of Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes — finding the right receiver at the right time and place, one after the other.
The clock stopped at 19, 12, five and three seconds as Team USA marched down the field.
On the goal line, Krouch took the snap, surveyed the field, then, with time already expired, she fired high into the back of the end zone and connected with Geraci for a walk-off touchdown. Team USA prevailed, 26-22.
“That’s a championship drive,” Geraci said. “Vanita [Krouch] is insane. Having her in the backfield leaves us with a sense of composure. You just kind of feel a sense of peace and zen when you know you have to make your way all the way down the field and score with her back there.”
In the end, this game and this tournament was a reminder of America’s dominance in the sport — particularly in the women’s category.
“They’re absolute athletes,” said Canada’s Sabrina Gervais, speaking of Team USA. “I think they have a good system. I think Canada can measure against them, and hopefully we can come to win.”
With the International Bowl hosted in Los Angeles, it was an ample reminder that three years from now, flag football will debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA and these same national teams — men’s and women’s — will compete for the sport’s first ever Olympic gold medal.
“That would be a dream come true,” said Velton Brown Jr., a WR/DB on the U.S. Men’s Flag National Team. “I’m seeing it more and more every day on TV and social media — people talking about being able to represent their country… in the Olympics. I don’t think anybody else will want anything bigger than that.”
Until then, there is more competition ahead for Team USA this summer. The women’s team will travel to Chengdu, China, for the 2025 World Games in August. Then, both the men’s and women’s squads will participate in the 2025 IFAF Americas Continental Flag Football Championship in Panama this September.
The Canadian and Japanese national women’s teams, who each played Team USA at the International Bowl, will also appear at the World Games.
“We’re working on things for us, we look at film and we analyze everything,” said U.S. Women’s Flag National Team WR/DB Madison Fulford. “The biggest thing for us is to be prepared, and that comes with taking things very seriously and looking at how we can improve more.”