By Chris Bibona
“Piensa en oro”
Think of gold
That is the mantra the Mexico Women’s Flag Football National Team adopted for its tournament run. The members of that team can now say ‘somos oro’ — we are golden.
Eight flag football national teams gathered in Chengdu, China for the 2025 edition of The World Games, but it was Mexico that defended its title and stunned the United States for a second straight gold.
The World No. 1 Ranked U.S.A. had entered the title match averaging 41 points scored per game in the tournament. It had also won the previous two matchups against El Tri and was conscious of its need to atone for a prior loss to Mexico at the 2022 World Games.
It was in this context that the Mexican defense held its opponent to 21 points, allowing quarterback Diana Flores’ offense the opportunity to march downfield and execute a game-winning drive with 28 seconds remaining. In the end, Mexico triumphed over U.S.A. 26-21, but not before one of the grittiest matches ever played at the highest level of flag football.
“I’m so proud,” Flores said. “I’m so blessed to share this moment with my teammates.”
Mexico and the U.S. each began the game with three offensive drives and no points to show for it. After 19 minutes of tense defensive football, Team USA scored first blood after center Ashlea Klam reeled in a 4-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Vanita Krouch. Wide receiver Izzy Geraci converted the extra point and the U.S.A. took an early lead, 7-0.
Mexico, with 39 seconds remaining in the half, utilized its deep playbook to convert a double pass touchdown — Flores to Tania Rincón, who then went deep to receiver Monica Rangel for the touchdown. On the ensuing 2-point attempt, Flores evaded pressure, stepped up and fired to Rangel to move ahead 8-7.
In a title game with razor-thin margins of error, it was ultimately the quarterback play that made the difference in the match. All game long, Krouch and Team USA attempted to activate their deep threat, WR Madison Fulford, but what had previously been the wishing well for the American offense went dry in the finale.
“When I can get behind a defender, it’s a great time for me, but it also stretches the field,” Fulford said after Team USA’s win versus China in pool play. “I play a pretty big role in creating opportunities for my teammates because I make people have to respect the deep ball.”
In what could have been the final drive of the half, Krouch heaved a first down ball toward the right sideline and overshot her streaking receiver Fulford. There, three yards ahead, was Mexico’s Allison Salazar who secured her second interception of the game. The U.S.A's deep ball strategy had pummeled nations earlier in this tournament, but in this instance, it gave Mexico an extra offensive drive before the intermission.
Just seconds later, Diana Flores made her counterpart pay. Under center, she took the snap, pump faked, then threw an outlet pass to Rincón who was just 11 yards downfield. Rincón then sprinted along the left sideline uncontested for a 34-yard Mexico score. After an incomplete extra point the game went to halftime, 14-7 Mexico.
Team USA had trailed in three of five games heading into the gold medal match and had found a way to emerge victorious in each one.
“My mindset never changes,” Fulford said previously at the World Games. “I don’t care what the scoreboard reflects, I’m going to go out there and ball as hard [as possible] at all times.”
While there were moments in the second half that gave flashes of hope to the Americans, Sunday’s rematch with Mexico had a different fate in store.
The championship game found itself in Mexico’s favor 20-14 with 34 seconds remaining. Players on the U.S.A. offense had been visibly frustrated after a string of drops and poorly placed throws. Faces turned solemn as the five staples of the American offense were tasked with a fourth down and four. An incompletion meant silver; a completion moved the U.S.A. that much closer to gold.
Krouch took the snap under center, dropped back and released a beautiful ball over eight players ahead of her. The one exclusion? Madison Fulford, who used two hands to haul in the 29-yard equalizer. It would have been Krouch’s best throw of the game if it were not for the perfectly-placed extra point she floated over the first level of Mexican defense to find Geraci for the lead, 21-20.
Under normal circumstances, the back-to-back throws by Krouch to tie and move ahead in the final minute should have compensated for an otherwise forgettable performance from the 44-year-old field general. But with 28 seconds left, another champion of the sport had the opportunity to add to her legacy.
After two game-defining defensive penalties by the U.S. defense, 11-year veteran of the Mexican national team Diana Flores found herself five yards away from a second international gold. With four seconds remaining, she took the snap and surveyed the field on the final play of the game.
Receiver Victoria Chávez had lined up on the outside, adjacent to the right sideline. She ran a streak to the back corner of the endzone and turned back toward the line of scrimmage. As the play developed, it was apparent Team USA had left Chávez unguarded. Flores picked up the miscue immediately and made a gold medal-clinching throw into the hands of her receiver.
The game had not even formally concluded and tears were running down the faces of a huddled and jubilant Mexico. Across from the cheers and excitement, faces of shock and despair riddled the American sideline.
Mexico once again bested the United States. In 2022, it was a 39-6 blowout victory for El Tri. In 2025, a disciplined defensive display against one of the greatest offenses the sport of flag football has ever seen.
“We just played the best football here,” Flores said. “I’m blessed to be a part of it.”