HENDERSON, Nev. – Nevada State University continues to cement its place as a national leader in collegiate flag football as junior wide receiver and defensive back Brooklin Hill and freshman quarterback Akemi Higa have been selected to the USA Football Women's National Team for the 2026 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag Football World Championship. Additionally, Nevada State Offensive Coordinator Rudy Fernandez has been selected to serve as a coach for the USA Football Men's National Team.
 
The trio will represent the United States on the international stage as the nation's top men's and women's teams compete against the world's best flag football athletes. The competition will be held in Düsseldorf, Germany, August 13 through 16, where teams representing 19 nations from five continents will compete. 
 
"This is an incredible honor for Brooklin, Akemi and Coach Fernandez, and a testament to the culture of excellence we've built within our flag football program," said Yvonne Wade, Director of Athletics at Nevada State University. "To have two student-athletes and a member of our coaching staff selected to represent Team USA speaks to the talent, dedication and leadership that define Nevada State Athletics. We are proud to see them represent both the country and our university."
 
Hill was instrumental in Nevada State's historic inaugural season, helping lead the Scorpions to an undefeated 13-0 record. Higa enters her freshman year after a record-setting career at Desert Oasis High School, where she emerged as one of Nevada's premier quarterbacks. Together, the pair elevate Nevada State's reputation as a destination for elite flag football talent, with their selections to the USA Football Women's National Team reflecting both their individual achievements and the rapid rise of the Scorpions' nationally recognized program.
 
"I was overwhelmed with excitement when I learned I had been selected to represent Team USA. It was a mix of relief, joy and gratitude, knowing all the hard work had paid off," said Brooklin Hill. "Flag football has changed the course of my athletic journey, and I'm thankful to my coaches and teammates at Nevada State for pushing me to become the best player I can be. I'm excited to compete against the best in the world, challenge myself in new ways and bring everything I learn back to help elevate our program."
 
"I was speechless when I found out I had been selected to represent Team USA," said Akemi Higa. "It's been a dream of mine since I first learned about the national team, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside some of the best players in the world. I'm thankful to my coaches and teammates who have played a big role in my journey, and I'm excited to learn from this experience, represent our country, and bring that knowledge back to Nevada State to help our team continue to grow."
 
Fernandez's selection to the USA Football Men's National Team coaching staff reflects his impact on the growth of the sport and his leadership in helping establish Nevada State's premier flag football program.
 
"When I found out Brooklin, Akemi and I had been selected to the USA Football National Teams, I got emotional because I know how much they've sacrificed and how hard they've worked to earn this opportunity," said Rudy Fernandez, offensive coordinator for Nevada State Women's Flag Football. "I'm incredibly proud of both of them. Their selections are a testament to the talent we have at Nevada State and the culture we're building within our program. This recognition brings national credibility to what we're creating here by showing recruits and the flag football community that Nevada State is becoming one of the premier destinations for collegiate flag football."
 
The inaugural season for Nevada State's Flag Football Program marked the first collegiate-level flag football program to be offered within the state of Nevada, quickly establishing itself as a destination for elite talent. The selections of Hill, Higa and Fernandez further reinforce the university's growing reputation as a pipeline for athletes and coaches competing at the highest levels of the sport.
 
Flag football continues to experience unprecedented growth worldwide and will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The IFAF Flag Football World Championship serves as one of the sport's premier international competitions, featuring the world's top national teams.